bundance of research showing that diversity of thought brings better decisionmaking, and this can only be a good thing when it comes to running businesses to yield performance and engaged teams,” Lee told IRW.  According to Lee, it is vital for the business to have women throughout its leadership structure based on the fact that the majority of its customers are female. This drive assists The Iconic in creating the most seamless and tailored experience for their customers.  “When I started working over 20 years ago, the lack of women in leadership positions was concerning. While some of my previous roles have not had the strong female representations that is present within The Iconic C-Suite, I have been fortunate to work with male leaders who have been career sponsors, and have encouraged me in stepping up the corporate ladder, valuing the diversity of thought that I bring to the table,” Lee explained.  “In that regard, it’s important to note that it isn’t just women championing diversity and gender balance but that there are plenty of men who do too.” Creating an inclusive environment Lee explains that the team at The Iconic has worked hard to foster an inclusive environment, where everyone at all business levels is encouraged to express the best version of themselves regardless of gender, background, age or nationality.  For businesses to follow in their footsteps, Lee said, it is important to ensure that women feel confident and supported when putting themselves forward for leadership roles – something many women struggle with. “Having a strong representation of women in leadership provides for visible role modelling, which is important,” Lee said.  “Further, initiatives such as flexible working arrangements and parental leave across the board for both females and males are crucial in fostering greater balance at a leadership level.” Berchtold recently told IRW that it’s also important not to assume every woman wants to be a mother, and to provide opportunities for people who are on different paths. “You don’t want to pigeonhole women, or generalise. But if you are a mother, or want to become a mother, it’s not going to diminish [your] intelligence or capabilities,” Berchtold said. “There are people who think you’re going to be less motivated or less intelligence [after having a child], and it just doesn’t work like that.”