Women in leadership positions

Pursuing a career in academia is more difficult for women. With the new PRIMA leadership programme, the SNSF is promoting gender equality and innovative approaches to leadership. The programme is open to all women researchers funded under the PRIMA scheme. The programme includes workshops as well as counselling and networking opportunities.

Women in leadership positions could play an important role in problem-solving, stressed the leadership expert Margaret J. Wheatley at the programme launch in April 2019. “Without considering a wide range of different perspectives on the scientific and social issues of today, we will not make any progress.” How can we achieve adequate representation of women researchers? The participants in the panel discussion were unanimous: it was the institutions and the academic culture that had to change. It wasn’t the fault of the women if they couldn’t manage to reach the top.