Embracing Feminist Leadership: Transforming Organizational Culture

29 October 2024

By Amanda Kobeissi

Despite years of efforts, many workplaces continue to fall short of true gender equality and inclusivity. Recent findings from the 2024 Gender Index – Equal Measures 2030 and McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace study highlight the ongoing challenges and the need for proactive measures to achieve gender parity and inclusive workplaces.

At Equal Measures 2030 (EM2030), we believe in the power of feminist leadership to drive transformative change within organizations. As feminist activist and scholar Srilatha Batliwala explains in the Think Piece Series 2022, feminist leadership is about ‘transforming ourselves, our organisations, and the larger world to mirror and advance a feminist vision of social transformation and justice.’ This approach breaks away from traditional notions of authority and control, focusing instead on dismantling discriminatory power structures within ourselves, our organizations, and our movements.

With the urgency of these challenges, it’s time for a new approach to leadership—one that is inclusive, equitable, and rooted in feminist principles. Here’s how we at EM2030 are putting these principles into practice and why they are more essential than ever.

EM2030’s Approach to Feminist Leadership

At Equal Measures 2030 (EM2030), our commitment to promoting equity, justice, and inclusion is fundamental to our mission of creating a world where every individual can thrive, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status. This commitment extends to our own workplace, where we’ve embarked on a collaborative journey to define and implement feminist leadership principles.

Our approach to feminist leadership has been a collective effort that reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences of our team. Through extensive discussions and reflections, we’ve shaped a set of principles that resonate with our shared values and lived experiences. This iterative process not only led to our feminist leadership principles but also to the development of a comprehensive team working agreement that guides our daily interactions and ensures our organizational culture embodies these principles.

Here’s what Feminist Leadership means to our Team

“ Feminist leadership puts our feminist values at the centre and those values can differ for everyone based on context and lived realities. But I think for me personally it’s shared power, it’s trust, it’s mutual accountability” – Aarushi Khanna

“ Feminist leadership needs to be approached intersectionally, accounting for all inequalities and power imbalances, enabling everyone to contribute their skills and talents. ” – Alison Holder

“Feminist values itself is about the belief that we all need to be free of oppression. So basically, equal opportunities and equal outcomes for everyone. Feminist leadership is how we live those values and how we practice it, in our behaviour, in our culture, in the way we interact in our organisation.” – Julisa Tambunan

These diverse perspectives have coalesced into a set of principles that guide our work.

Our Feminist Principles:

Curating Safe Spaces for Co-creation: . We embody the principle of ‘Nothing about us without us’ by fostering inclusive collaboration, removing barriers so everyone feels safe to speak up, and combining diverse experiences and resources to solve challenges together.

Challenging Oppression and Discrimination: We continuously learn, unlearn, and relearn to dismantle oppressive beliefs and biases at both individual and institutional levels.

Creating a Culture of Belonging: We encourage feedback, embrace discomfort, and grow from mistakes, fostering a sense of belonging.

Leading with Empathy: We maintain a supportive and respectful environment while staying mindful of our mission and impact.

Operating with Trust and Transparency: We trust our team members to make decisions and lead within their responsibilities, fostering an environment of transparency.

Prioritizing Collective Care: We offer a flexible and supportive work environment with fair leave policies, a 4-day work week, and equitable compensation regardless of location.

Promoting Shared Leadership and Power: We recognize our power and privileges and work towards shared goals, empowering colleagues to share leadership roles.

Embracing Flexibility and Agility: We value flexibility, allowing our team to work remotely and adapt to changing needs, which is evident in our internal policies.

Maintaining Zero Tolerance for Discrimination: We strive to build a respectful and supportive environment where individuals can engage safely, contributing their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives to our collective work.

Being Mutually Accountable: We hold ourselves accountable for our purpose, our team, our coalition members, our funders, and our mission.

Real-Life Impacts of Feminist Leadership

The implementation of feminist leadership principles at EM2030 has led to tangible benefits in how we operate and engage with one another. Here are some examples of how these principles shape our organization:

“Our decision to shift into a coalition translates our intention to share power. It has allowed for more equitable decision-making and empowered everyone in the organisation”– Julisa

“I value the workshops done on anti-oppression. They have helped me recognize and challenge my own biases.”– Paula

“We’re very flexible and fully remote. I know that if I had an emergency right now, everyone would understand, and the team would understand that I am not only balancing work but motherhood as well. This trust and flexibility allow me to balance my personal and professional life effectively.” – Aminah

By applying feminist principles, we’ve created an inclusive culture that drives innovation and satisfaction and ensures that all our employees feel valued and respected. Diverse teams bring various perspectives, leading to more creative solutions. Employees who feel included and valued are more likely to stay with the organisation longer, and a supportive workplace fosters a sense of community and belonging, where everyone works together towards common goals.

By embracing feminist leadership, organizations can create workplaces that are not only more equitable and just but also more innovative and successful. The journey toward – feminist leadership is ongoing, but the benefits—for individuals, organizations, and society—are immeasurable.

The Time for Feminist Leadership is Now – Practical Steps for Implementation

It is imperative for organisations to adopt feminist leadership principles now more than ever. Here are some clear steps that you can take:

1. Assess your organization’s power structures: Identify existing power dynamics and structural barriers that may be preventing true inclusivity.

2. Provide anti-oppression training: Offer workshops that help employees recognize and challenge their own biases while building awareness of systemic inequalities.

3. Develop clear policies for inclusivity: Create policies that explicitly promote gender equality, prohibit discrimination, and ensure equitable pay and opportunities for all.

4. Create safe spaces for dialogue: Encourage open discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and ensure that all voices are heard.

5. Encourage shared leadership: Promote practices that allow for shared decision-making and empower all employees to take on leadership roles.

6. Offer flexible and inclusive benefits: Provide benefits that accommodate diverse needs, such as flexible working hours, remote work options, and equitable leave policies.

Join us in this transformative approach to leadership. The future of work is feminist, and it starts with us.