Insights on Leadership, Barriers, and Gender Equity: A Discussion

Hindustan Times

28-04-2025

HT Smartcast met Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India, British Council for an insightful discussion around Women's Day. Alison spoke to RJ Sarthak about her journey, the need to foster inclusion in workplace policies and the benefits of gender balanced leadership mix
Women leaders are reshaping industries, redefining power dynamics, challenging status quo, and driving meaningful change in workplaces worldwide. Yet, challenges persist, riddled with systemic barriers, unconscious bias, and lack of representation at the highest levels. Achieving true gender parity demands more than just policies. It requires unwavering commitment, structural change, and a cultural shift in how leadership is perceived. In a recent episode of HT Smartcast, titled 'Empowering Women in Leadership,' Alison Barrett MBE, Country Director India at British Council, shared her powerful journey, insights, and strategies to elevate women in leadership roles.
Reflecting on her 27-year career across 14 countries, Alison spoke about how diverse experiences have shaped her leadership style—giving her a potent combination of global awareness, insights from working in the field with beneficiaries and stakeholders, adaptability, empathy and increasingly playing an active role in mentoring the next generation of leaders. While progress has been made on gender equity, she acknowledged the persistent structural barriers and lack of mentorship that hinder women's advancement. She stressed the importance of strong policies, leadership training, and mentorship programmes designed to support women at every stage of their careers.
A significant challenge discussed was the gender gap in STEM fields. Alison pointed out a stark reality—while many young women pursue science education, far fewer continue into STEM careers. She also touched upon the British Council's Gender Advancing Transforming Institutions Project (GATI), that works to transcend systemic barriers to foster an inclusive environment for women in STEM. This collaborative project with the Government of India's Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the UK's Advance HE, is working to develop a comprehensive gender equality framework for research and higher education institutions across India.
Alison touched upon another topic that she is passionate about: the critical role that women play in sustainability and climate action. As the leader of the Climate Connection programme, she has seen first-hand the spirited drive led by young people. She highlighted that there is great need for women in climate leadership roles, as they are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet often excluded from decision-making processes.
Discussing the challenges that women face at workplaces, Alison reflected on the gender biases and challenges she encountered in her journey and how she tackled them. While workplace policies are evolving, behaviour change and shifting societal mindsets remain essential to true progress.
On workplace inclusion, Alison discussed the importance of gender-balanced hiring policies. While achieving a 50-50 workforce gender mix is a positive step, she believes real transformation lies in cultivating an environment where women are valued and encouraged. This includes implementing flexible work arrangements, ensuring pay equity, and creating leadership development programmes tailored to women's needs.
The podcast concluded with Alison expressing optimism about the future of women in leadership roles. She envisions a world where gender equity is not just an ambition, but a reality woven into the fabric of organisations and societies. As parting advice, she called upon all leaders to take collective action as allies in dismantling barriers and creating meaningful opportunities for women. 'It's really about being an ally and providing that support, advice and encouragement in whatever way you can,' she summed up.
For more information about the British Council's initiatives in India, please visit www.britishcouncil.in
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