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Business women say a ‘career break' may be catalyst to better options, entrepreneurship
A POLL of the 2013 Telstra Business Women's Awards winners has provided fascinating insights into the vexed question of what are known as 'career breaks'.
Interestingly, about 87 percent of respondents said taking on parenting responsibilities could actually be a catalyst to becoming an entrepreneur.
Many leading business women interviewed believed that while a career break was often perceived as negatively impacting a woman's career, it can also be a catalyst to reassess a career path, try something new and perhaps lead on to entrepreneurship.
The online survey of 115 state and territory Telstra Business Women's Awards finalists, undertaken in early October, found 89 percent of respondents said women face challenges when returning to work after a career break, regardless of whether the break was for extended travel, study leave, maternity leave or other reasons.
About 36 percent said a break spurred women on to try something different, 55 percent believed taking time out could be positive as it enabled women to reassess their life and career, with 87 percent making the observation that becoming a parent could lead to starting a new business.
But four in 10 women said they found it difficult to re-enter the workforce in the same capacity. One-third of women surveyed believed a career break negatively impacted wealth creation and 20 percent believed women find it difficult to be considered for a role equal to their experience.
There were some reassuring views that came out of the poll, with 82 percent believing Australia's entrepreneurial culture is alive and well. The five key attributes of women entrepreneurs were counted as passion; a hard work ethic; creativity; vision; and innovation.
Yet 44 percent of respondents said they had also experienced an inequity in pay for a like role held by a male colleague. Asked why the pay gap still exists, 53 percent said the workplace still favoured males and 46 percent said women found asking for money intimidating.
The survey was undertaken in the lead-up to the national finals of the Telstra Business Women's Awards being staged in Melbourne on November 14. The awards are in their 19th year of celebrating the achievements of outstanding Australian business women.
"The awards are an important platform for women to share their experiences and the choices they've made in their personal and business journeys," said Kate McKenzie, Telstra chief operations officer and Telstra Business Women's Awards ambassador.
"These valuable insights provide inspiration for other women to make the best of their talents and opportunities in today's workplaces."
Carolyn Creswell, 2012 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year and managing director of Carman's Fine Foods, admitted she was "in labour and punching out the last email" before her first child.
She said women who were business owners should plan and put things in place before taking a career break.
"It's amazing how dispensable you are," Ms Cresswell said. "When you have great people at work, the business just keeps going."
Jocelyn Parsons, the manager of Salvage and Intervention at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the 2012 ACT Young Business Women's Award winner, joined the Navy at 17 and took a career break eight years later, moving overseas for a couple of years.
Reflecting on her experience she said, "It was the first time I thought about a world outside Defence - it was a chance for me to take stock both personally and professionally. It was the catalyst for me to leave the Navy and to explore new things."
Karen James, general manager for Women in Focus at Commonwealth Bank, said, "A career break can provide the opportunity for a person to discover their passions. It's our experience that many women have used their career break as an opportunity to assess their purpose, which often becomes the catalyst for them to launch their own entrepreneurial venture.
"At that time we encourage women to seek out social communities, like Women in Focus, to stay connected and get the support they need to grow and thrive."
The eight women who are finalists for the title of 2013 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year are:
Jeannine Biviano, Deputy Director General, Department of Trade and Investment (NSW);
Sonja Cox, director of operational performance, Policy & Planning for the Department of Corrective Services (WA);
Laura McBain, Bellamy's Organic CEO (Tasmania);
Dr Julia Newton-Howes, CARE Australia CEO (ACT);
Cheryl Shigrov, founder of Precious Cargo Education Pty Ltd (SA);
Sadhana Smiles, Harcourts Victoria CEO (Victoria);
Helen Summers, owner of Helen Summers Optometrist Eyecare Plus Darwin, (NT);
Rosemary Vilgan, QSuper CEO, (Queensland).
Other awards presented at the event will be the Business Owner Award, Private and Corporate Sector Award, Community and Government Award, Business Innovation Award and Young Business Women's Award.
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