“We should support young girls in building their confidence”

As part of the ‘10 × 6 Women: Leaders’ role models’ organised by the Paperjam + Delano Club on Tuesday, February 22, Djamila Aouada, Senior Research Scientist and Assistant Professor of SnT, shares her vision of female leadership.

Would you say that female leadership is different from male leadership?

Djamila Aouada. – “Based on my obviously biased experience, yes, absolutely. To me, a major difference seems to be that women lead with more empathy. Some may consider it a weakness, while I believe it is one of the most important skills of a successful leader. Understanding your collaborators and adapting the team strategy accordingly are very important for increased overall effectiveness.

What could we do in order to inspire more women to become leaders?

“First, we should give more exposure to women leaders. Having more successful women to look up to is important at any age, and initiatives like the Paperjam 10x6 are a step in the right direction. Secondly, we should ensure a healthy school and work environment for everyone, to allow women to reach their full potential without having to fight gender bias, including unconscious bias. Thirdly, we should support young girls in building their confidence, starting as early as possible. They should trust themselves. That’s key in becoming leaders later on.

Are you in favour of gender quotas for management?

“In the past, maybe not – women want equality, not protection. But today, it is becoming more and more obvious to me that if quotas are not put in place, no change will happen.”

Événements Associés