This year, we are extending the Aurora programme to include special sessions open to ALL staff at the University. The first event will be on Friday 9 September 2016, 9.30 – 12.30.

The event will be hosted by our new Aurora Champion for this year Yvonne Sherwood, Professor of Religious Studies, and we are delighted to have Michelle Ryan, Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Exeter, UK and a (part-time) Professor of Diversity at the University of Groningen, The Netherlands, delivering a talk on women’s leadership. Research into the glass cliff was named by the New York Times as one of the top 100 ideas that shaped 2008.

Uncovering the Glass Cliff: Women’s leadership roles in times of crisis examines what happens when women begin to take on leadership roles in increasing numbers. Extending the metaphor of the glass ceiling, ‘the glass cliff’ describes a leadership phenomenon whereby women are more likely to be found in leadership positions that are associated with a greater risk of failure and criticism.

This talk will describe a decade’s worth of research which has uncovered the phenomenon of the glass cliff looking at archival research into company performance, experimental laboratory studies, and interviews with female leaders. We will also examine some of the underlying psychological processes: stereotypes, support networks, and organisational strategy. Implications for gender equality initiatives and for women who are aiming for leadership roles will be discussed.

To register your interest in attending the event, please could you email the Learning and Development team ldev@kent.ac.uk by Wednesday 31 August 2016.