In celebration of International Women's Day on March 8th, it was a great time to take a few minutes to reflect with our General Manager Joanne McMahon. As one of the few female GMs in our sector, we truly wanted to have Joanne share her insights on leadership, diversity, and the future of women in our sector. Our team here at RTL genuinely values Joanne leadership and we wanted to share this with the rest of our peers in our industry.  

As one of the few female General Managers in our industry, what unique perspective do you bring to your role at RTL?

Gosh that’s hard to say as I don’t know whether it’s a unique perspective because I’m female or a unique perspective just because of my personality type but basically, I think I listen to my team and am probably more collaborative and transparent as a GM.  Whilst I’m quick at making decisions, I like to bring as many of the team with me as possible and take on everyone’s perspectives before making a call.  I also take a very longterm approach to business and business relationships – just keep doing the work, delivering the goods and eventually customer service excellence wins even the most difficult customers over!  

From an Aotearoa New Zealand perspective, what challenges and opportunities do you see for women in leadership positions?

There’s still a bit of an “Old Boys Club” attitude like doing business over a round of golf and beers at the clubhouse afterwards.  I can’t stand that and have always shied away from it.  I never try to be “one of the boys” because I’m clearly not and it wouldn’t be authentic.  I am a firm believer in multi-tasking, being an early adopter, changing tack, being dynamic and I think, as a female in leadership, we are pretty good at that, as we have to juggle so many things between work, family, fitness and social life and it’s becoming more obvious that our “femaleness” is actually a help rather than a hindrance in getting the job done and doing it the right way for the longterm benefit of the business. Gender parity on private business boards is around 30% here which is pretty good in comparison to other OECD countries. 

How are you working to harness the strengths of the diverse cultures represented by women in our organisation?

I like to call RTL “The League of Nations”!  I am so proud of the many and varied nationalities and cultures within our business.  We’ve got quite a few women in senior positions so I like to think that sends out a very positive message to our industry at large.  We create a safe space for women here and can openly discuss female issues without any fear of judgement.  We’re also supportive in accommodating our working mums with flexible work arrangements where possible.

Can you share a standout moment during your time at RTL that highlights the company's/industry’s focus on women's empowerment or gender equality?

I think the Breast Cancer Awareness event we hosted a few years ago was just incredible.  We got huge support from the industry and not just from the women!  Everyone was so moved and affected by the stories that our speakers shared and it was a true reflection of our country and how we are all affected by this horrible disease throughout our lifetimes.  I was very proud of our team and our industry on that day.

What initiatives or changes would you like to see to improve gender diversity in our industry?

I think that flexible working arrangements are key and holding leadership accountable for achieving gender parity goals within their teams. 

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to leadership positions in traditionally male-dominated industries?

 Apply for the job – you may be surprised!  I started in the Aviation safety products industry and moved around the company into Marine and Defence divisions and into senior positions globally.  Get in at the beginning of your career and do the work well – you’ll be recognised for your output and if you’re not, move on.  Don’t stop trying.  And be upfront and honest with your team and your boss/mentor (in a polite way!) – you’ll end up being respected for it.

Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the future of women in leadership at RTL and in the broader industry?

I would like to think that I’ve proved that a leadership role can be done equally as well by a female as a male and that gender is not really a “thing” anymore when recruiting for senior positions.  We have some awesome women in leadership in our industry and we need them to mentor other females so their shoes are filled by quality female candidates when the time is right.

As we celebrate International Women's Day, what message would you like to share with the women in our organisation and industry? Put yourself out there and put yourself first!  Don’t be a wallflower or a shrinking violet – you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve and imposter syndrome is just something you have to kick into touch!

Thank you, Joanne, for fearlessly sharing your authentic thoughts and experiences. Your leadership has guided us through some incredible times and most recently some extremely challenging times – we are proud and also courageous  with you at the helm. Thank you for leading us from the heart!