5 quick questions with Yassmin Abdel-Magied

1 February 2017

 

The She Leads In-Conversation Series will provide Canberrans with the opportunity to hear from women leaders from different backgrounds and industries in a conversational format, followed by a live Q&A session, and networking. Our first She Leads In-Conversation event, taking place on Wednesday 22 February, will feature engineer and diversity advocate, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, in-conversation with science communicator and gender equality agitator, Dr. Amber Beavis.

We asked Yassmin five quick questions about leadership, to give readers a taste of what to expect from the event.

Describe your leadership journey in 30 words or less.

Unexpected, snowballing, difficult. Being a leader is uncomfortable, constantly challenging, and a constant exercise in humility. It’s been a growing responsibility, one that I am both stoked and terrified to undergo. But that’s the best, right?

What was (or is) your biggest leadership challenge?

Staying connected to the people I feel need to be heard – and not getting lost in the ivory tower. As well as always keeping my feet on the ground, and making sure I am effective, and authentic, inshallah.

Why do we need more women leaders, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics?

You can’t be what you can’t see. Further, the people in these areas design and make decisions about the world around us and to get the best results that serve us all. We need to ensure that women – and different demographics of women – are included in the design and decision making process.

What book should every aspiring woman leader read?

So many! ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’?

Share with us the best piece of advice you’ve been given.

You learn when you are uncomfortable.

To hear more from Yassmin on February 22, get your tickets here.

Tags: gender equality, she leads, STEM, Women's leadership