Advice for women aspiring to senior roles within the charity sector

Advice for women aspiring to senior roles within the charity sector

For International Women’s Day, our Chief Executive Paula Ojok shares her advice for women aspiring to senior roles within the charity sector.

After beginning my career in adult care, working with people with learning disabilities, I took a leap and moved into administration in the commercial world. I trained to become a high-level PA, working for organisations such as Mercury Communications, Morton International and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.

I then took a seven-year break to raise my amazing three children, who I have to say I am extremely proud. One day I was perusing the local paper (there was no social media in those days 😊) and stumbled across a role for PA to the Chief Executive of a national charity. I thought, this has my name written all over it. I applied, got an interview, did a technical test, (which wasn’t easy after seven years out of a working environment) and then an interview. I left feeling embarrassed, like I had let myself down and that I did awful in the test. I no sooner got home, and, to my huge surprise, I received a phone call offering me the job. I literally screeched!

The people who interviewed me saw something in me and were willing to give me a chance. That was all I needed.

My Path:

My journey to becoming a CEO was certainly not planned, but rather evolved as I embraced every opportunity to learn and contribute beyond my initial roles of PA to CEO, Administration Manager, Director of Membership and External Affairs and Joint CEO.

As I progressed, I took on additional responsibilities, such as overseeing membership. I began to think more strategically, and became more involved in marketing and external affairs, finance and relationship building. This broadened my understanding of the organisation, (Helplines Partnership), as a whole. This cross-functional experience proved invaluable in preparing me for the CEO leadership role I find myself in today.

Throughout my career, I've encountered challenges:

Expanding expertise: I had to learn quickly about areas outside my initial expertise, such as the world of helplines and their sustainability, specialist topics, quality, and service delivery.

Commercial thinking: Whilst operating as a social enterprise, and not following a typical charity model, I needed to adapt my thoughts to that of the charity operating as a business while maintaining focus on our mission.

Resilience: Realising that there will be many challenges along the way and that sometimes there are things outside of our control. Self-care and wellbeing I learned to adjust and realign and keep going in good and difficult times.

Board relations: Learning to work effectively with trustees, foster good relationships, bringing together organisational strategy and legal responsibilities.

If I could give any advice for women aspiring to senior roles within the charity sector:

Find a champion: Seek out not just a mentor, but someone who believes in you and can help you see and achieve your potential. (I found this in my first CEO).

Embrace learning opportunities: Take on projects outside your comfort zone to broaden your skills and organisational understanding.

Develop commercial acumen: Stay informed about sector trends and economic factors affecting your charity.

Build a strong network and cultivate work-life balance: Collaborate across organisations and foster a positive team culture. Advocate for policies that support well-being, such as flexible work arrangements and parental leave.

Advocate for inclusive policies: Advocate for flexible working arrangements and policies that support everyone’s career progression.

Seek feedback and support: Invite critiques from trusted colleagues and consider working with a coach or advisor to manage your leadership approach effectively.

Be visible: Put yourself forward for opportunities and don't be afraid to showcase your achievements.

The number of female CEOs is increasing, with women now outnumbering men in some surveys of top charity leadership positions. By continuing to push for change and supporting one another, we can create a more equitable and diverse charity sector.

Remember, the path to leadership isn't always linear. Stay open to new challenges, continuous learning, build your confidence, make the most of every opportunity and focus on making a lasting impact in the sector.