Over 200 financial advisers and industry professionals across Australia attended the Association of Financial Advisers (AFA) Women in Leadership Masterclasses at the AFA National Roadshow.
The Masterclasses, were led by the AFA’s political strategist, Kerry Chikarovski, using materials that had been developed in response to the overwhelming feedback received during the nomination process for the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award program; a joint initiative of the AFA and TOWER Australia.
The Masterclasses addressed the following key areas:
- The qualities of great leadership
- Emotional intelligence
- How to thrive and build high performing teams
- Mentoring and networking for great results
- Career planning for women.
Victoria-based financial adviser, Adrienne Rush, said the presentation she attended at the Melbourne roadshow was inspirational.
“Kerry Chikarovski is an inspirational leader. I loved her presentation – which was delivered in such a natural and fun way. Hearing her thoughts on leadership added so much value.”
The Masterclasses tackled a number of specific hurdles, including:
- balancing natural empathy with a professional business approach, particularly in the case of insurance and claims management
- for small advice practice owners – being the boss while remaining a friend/peer to staff
- how to stay focussed and positive in unsupportive environments.
Ms Chikarovski said women attending the Masterclasses demonstrated a thirst for knowledge, learning and connection amongst professional women in the market place. “We need to foster this energy so that we can continue to champion the very important role women play in financial advice,” she said.
The Masterclasses represent just one of a number of initiatives being delivered by the AFA to help women in the advice profession, as part of the broader AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award program.
The Award program aims to:
- encourage greater participation by females in leadership roles within the profession
- encourage more females into the profession
- balance the gender equation in the profession
- provide clients with more choice when obtaining advice
- take a strategic first step towards addressing the issues of female under-insurance and the low level generally of women’s superannuation savings.
AFA CEO, Richard Klipin said the AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award has evolved into much more than an award. “The Award, coupled with the AFA’s Women in Leadership Masterclasses, herald the beginning of an AFA program for women in the financial advisory profession who want to be connected, who want to lead change and who want to provide the best possible outcomes for their clients,” he said. “The program will continue to deliver many more networking and professional development opportunities to our female financial advisers.”
According to Brett Clark, CEO of Retail Life TOWER Australia, sponsor of the award, “The AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award received 105 nominations by the time nominations closed. The high numbers validate the need for an award to celebrate, reward and encourage women who work in the financial advice profession.”
The winner of the inaugural AFA Female Excellence in Advice Award will be announced at the 2011 AFA National Conference.