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Meet the women of Nuffield Health – Caroline Smith

Category: Gender (Equality & Identity)

Gender Focus

International Women’s Day (8th March) is a chance for people all over the world to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, increasing visibility and raising awareness about gender inequality across the world.

For International Women’s Day, we have interviewed some of our inspirational women about the challenges and bias they have faced and which women have inspired them.

For this interview for International Women’s day, we spoke to Caroline Smith, our Chief Quality & Operating Officer. 

 

Pictured: Caroline Smith, Chief Quality & Operating OfficerCaroline Smith, Chief Quality & Operating Officer

 

What attitudes or biases do you still recognise around us?

Unfortunately, there’s still a disparity in healthcare. In the medical industry, many of our surgeons are still male and there is still an out-dated bias towards female nurses (of which I was one). 

In the fitness industry, we’re still heavily male-dominated. As a Charity which promotes diversity and inclusion in its workforce, we’re committed to trying to balance this - and of course this is much worse for minority groups and something we need to consciously address.

I do feel that women have a responsibility to shake off the ‘guilt’ of not being able to do everything. There is so much pressure for what a woman ‘should’ be doing in the home, alongside a career. It took me a long time to stop this way of thinking because I enjoy the nurturing side of home life, but I also wanted a career. It was an important realisation for me that I couldn’t have it all, rather I needed to learn balance and stop feeling guilty. The right balance is hard to find, but at Nuffield Health I have never had that problem, as an organisation we realise that family comes first, and help is always available – we just have to remember to ask!

Where do you notice your womanhood boosting you as a leader?

I believe my shared experience helps to boost me as a leader. I try to lead by example, as I can relate to women who are entering the workforce or trying to balance their work and home life responsibilities. I can empathise, having felt that guilt trying to succeed at both and I try to help guide them to find a balance that works for them.  

During my career, I have been given the opportunity (by as many male leaders as I have female) to succeed and reach my potential. I want to give those opportunities to others. I have deliberately pulled through female talent for my leadership team, creating an equal balance of men and women, and try to create safe environments where women can flourish and feel empowered. 

I think that having a sense of humour, honesty and being sensible and realistic about male and female dynamics in the workplace is important. I try to work round any issues of bias through humour and then asking why they think something is acceptable and/or why they have those views. I find that approach provides a better environment for discussion and learning, rather than being lectured. 

Where do you notice your womanhood becoming a barrier for you?

I have been lucky as I haven’t really encountered any barriers, however, I have experienced moments where my womanhood has been a hindrance, for example, where I am not taken as seriously as my male counter-parts or where people think that I have achieved success because of positive discrimination. I might be lucky as these moments have been rare, but they are still raw, and I remember all of them. 

Which woman has inspired you and why?

I would have to say, Michelle Obama. I find her very relatable/human, evidenced by the fact that she has a very broad appeal from a generational and diversity perspective. She is that perfect combination of feminist (but not one shouting it from the rooftops), a strong determined woman with a strong value set, a sense of family/nurturing spirit and she uses humour well. 

I think her husband, Barak Obama, encapsulated ‘…all achieved with grace’. Her journey is awe-inspiring.

 

Find out more about Nuffield Health

Explore current vacancies at Nuffield Health

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