2013-05-24T02:54:59-04:00 Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=laura-dunn Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Laura Dunn Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2925883 2013-03-21T14:52:35-04:00 2013-05-21T05:12:01-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
As the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, Sandberg is breaking barriers in both the digital world and the workplace. I first came to learn of Sandberg through her now famous TED Talk on why few women are 'at the table.' This was followed by other inspirational speeches such as the commencement speech delivered at Barnard College in 2011.

Lean In isn't strictly a business manual or a personal memoir. It's best to describe it as a unique fusion of both genres, mixed with equal measures of inspiration and encouragement.

In the US, women receive 57% of undergraduate degrees, and 60% of masters degrees. In the UK, women are similarly at 57% in receiving undergraduate degrees, yet these percentages aren't mirrored throughout the workforce. Sandberg offers several explanations for this.

Female accomplishments come at a cost, with descriptions such as aggressive and ambitious when attributed to a woman not seen as compliments. Similarly, taking risks and advocating for oneself are traits that girls are discouraged from exhibiting. This may offer some explanation for why academic gains are not being translated into top jobs for women across all sectors.

It was interesting to read theories such as the impostor syndrome, which I can certainly testify to experiencing. The impostor syndrome is described as an individual feeling like a fraud and plagued by feelings of self-doubt. Sandberg argues that this is a symptom of a greater issue of underestimating ourselves, and I can agree that is something that we should all work on. We need to have more confidence in our accomplishments and our goals, and to feel and demonstrate that anything is possible.

Sandberg is right to say that women often attribute their success to external factors, such as working hard, luck and help from others. Who can't say that this mix hasn't 'helped' them? I certainly can't. Failure demonstrates a lack of ability, and Sandberg argues that this pattern has long-term negative consequences. Let's banish this feeling of failure as a lack of ability. Sure things go wrong for all of us, but by no means does it mean that we are unable to achieve.

I loved the term 'jungle gym,' and was surprised that I had not come across it before. To be in the jungle gym is to participate in creative exploration of the job market- and not just have one foot on the ladder. Sandberg provides encouragement that a career doesn't need to be mapped out from the beginning, and discusses a dual approach to your professional career. The long-term dream and the 18-month plan really are simple to understand, work with and provide that reassurance that you can evolve and travel along the career road. It is certainly one that I will be implementing as I look at my own career and what I hope to achieve.

It was great to read more about mentoring, something which I am a big supporter of. Studies have shown that mentors select protégés based on performance and potential. Instead of seeking out a mentor before deciding what you'd like to achieve or even what problem you'd like to solve, Sandberg suggests that you need to 'excel' to get a mentor. From personal experience, I can say that this approach has been successful, and is continuing to this very day. My mentors assist and inspire me in different ways, and the two way process of helping, inspiring and working with each other brings surprising and welcome results.

Sandberg's book is not just for women, and I am so glad that she advocates for senior men mentoring women and helping to champion and sponsor them. Any male leader serious about moving toward a more equivalent society and workplace should make this a priority and help to play their part in the solution towards achieving this goal.

Lean In has many inspiring quotes and one of my favourites is "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" It's easy to think of things that scare us, both personally and professionally. Whilst the fear may not disappear instantly, I am certainly going to try and conquer what scares me.

Above all, Sandberg's message is one of speaking up, and encouraging others to do the same. Let's embrace this, conquer our self-doubt and help others on the path to equality and success. Leaning In can make all the difference.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.2114252 2012-11-11T14:20:15-05:00 2013-01-11T05:12:01-05:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
One of the most striking differences between UK and US politics is the sheer amount of television adverts. Every time I switched on the TV I was barraged with wall-to-wall advertisements from Democrats, Republicans, Independents and PACs. The states of Virginia and Maryland were voting on various questions (six, seven and what felt like every number in between!) and these adverts fitted neatly in between ones for president, Senate and City Council.

Despite the constant adverts, it was fabulous to experience the electric atmosphere that was building even before voters went to the polls.

The day before election day I visited the capitol and had a tour by a staffer who worked for a Democratic Member of Congress. Having previously interned in the House of Representatives, it was fantastic to re-visit old haunts and even have the opportunity to sit on the floor of the House. Even with the Representatives out of town, the complex was abuzz with talk of the impending election. Being in a place of such history and prominence reminded me how important democracy and the process of voting is. It is through our actions at the ballot box that we can influence democracy, participating in a ritual that is a basic human right for all.

Election day soon dawned and after an early tour of the White House, I traveled the short distance to Alexandria, VA to visit a polling station. My friend had already voted, and as we turned the corner to enter the building, I was unprepared for the site that waited in front of me. A large group of volunteers stood outside the station, leaflets in hand ready to influence any voter who may remain undecided. A line of yellow sticky tape lay on the sidewalk, its presence reminding the volunteers that they were not allowed to distribute political material over that specific point. The volunteers were passionate in their cause, and it was great to chat with those who had been on the campaign trail for months. The atmosphere inside the polling station was different to what I expected. It was extremely calm, with volunteers such as my friend checking voter ID's and directing people to the voting area. What hit me was the steady turnout, something which would continually increase as the day carried on.

Polling stations on the east coast began to close at 19.00, and returns slowly started to trickle in. What amazed me was how quickly states were called either for president Obama or Mitt Romney. Perhaps the UK can learn a thing or too! When Ohio was called for the president, we knew that he had won four more years, and a night of celebrating could begin! I left my hotel for the quick walk to the White House, where jubilant crowds had already began to gather. The temperature was freezing, but that did not stop us from having a great time! Students from nearby George Washington University and Georgetown were chanting the president's name and "four more years", their homemade banners and signs adding to the festivities. Individuals had climbed up trees to get a better look at the crowd that seemed to expand every few minutes. Individuals were running across the street in celebration, and cars and buses honked their horns to join in with the crowd. Similar scenes had broken out across other areas of DC and police struggled to contain the growing crowds on U Street.

The atmosphere remained as electric the following day when the president and his family returned to Washington. As Marine One flew over our heads it was great to know that president Obama was back in town, and determined to get back to business.

I feel very privileged and lucky to have been in Washington at a time of such importance and excitement. Speaking to many individuals it was evident that the result of this election was perhaps even more important than 2008. President Obama delivered a decisive victory, confirming his presidency for a further four years, with the American people choosing a clearly defined domestic and foreign path for their country. The Senate remains in Democratic control, with a record total of 20 women now serving as Senators. This is clear progress, and a result that I feel will continue to inspire and encourage women across America and across the globe to become politically and socially active in their local communities.

The eyes of the world now look towards the inauguration of Barack Obama on 21 January 2013 and what the next four years may bring.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1862423 2012-09-07T16:16:21-04:00 2012-11-07T05:12:01-05:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
As a member of Women in Film Foundation Los Angeles, Sharon helps women to achieve their potential in the global entertainment, communications and media industries both in the US and on a global scale.

"My interest in Women in Film came from attending the Crystal Awards in 1998 where Meryl Streep and producers Gale Anne Hurd and Lucy Fisher were honored with the annual award. I was persuaded by the Foundation's President, Joan Hyler, to become an active member, and it is her eloquence about the status and value of the leadership of women that really opened my eyes to the importance of support, acknowledgement and financial parity that Women in Film stands for," Sharon tells me.

"Women in Film have advocated over the last 40 years to create a network that connects our members to opportunities, education and non-profit efforts in line with our vision of empowering all women and ultimately connecting us with one another."

The organization is involved in many different projects such as the Film Finishing Fund sponsored by Netflix, a PSA programme and a Legacy Series archiving interviews with women involved in every area of the entertainment industry beginning with the 1930s. Women in Film are also currently involved in a partnership with the Sundance Institute to track the progress of the female filmmakers from the class of 2012.

Despite the support that Women in Film offers females in the industry, it is clear that women remain at a disadvantage in the world of entertainment. "Women remain dramatically under-represented as characters in film when compared to their representation in the US population," Sharon says. "They comprised only 18% of directors, executive producers, producers, writers and editors on the top 250 domestic grossing films in 2011. It is clear that something has to change."

Despite these stark statistics, Sharon is positive that the entertainment, communications and media industries can positively change and help women. "Technology has already opened the door a bit wider for filmmakers, with smaller digital cameras making production less cumbersome. Social media is allowing self distribution, and girl groups like Spark Summit are leading the way in calling for fewer Photoshop image alterations of girls in print media."

Sharon's own success is certainly impressive, with her presence in television series such as NYPD Blue, Law & Order SVU, Grey's Anatomy and Drop Dead Diva gaining her a large fan base.
"I am attracted to the complexities and deeper truths of characters, and I can't name a favourite role any more than I can name a favourite food! It was so interesting to play the sociopathic social killer on Law & Order SVU and Issie's fragile but well-meaning Mom on Grey's Anatomy."

Sharon recently reprised her role on Drop Dead Diva, and has also joined the cast of Rizzoli and Isles, playing the birth-mom of Dr. Maura Isles, portrayed by Sasha Alexander. "Rizzoli and Isles positively represents an era in television drama where female characters are realistically portrayed in positions of power and professional achievement. It is also wonderful to see women at the top of male dominated professions benefitting from a friendship based on trust and respect, rather than competition."

Despite her busy schedule, Sharon is committed to her charitable interests. "As a scuba diver I quickly saw the devastating impact of ocean degradation. Local efforts like Heal the Bay and Green Wish are really effective in advocating change, such as the banning of single use plastic bags or promoting regulations of clean air."

Sharon is also passionate about mentoring individuals both inside and outside her charitable commitments. "We bounce ideas, attend events together, swap stories of success and struggle and sometimes even share clothes!"

Sharon's own inspirations include some of her fellow industry professionals.

"Annette Bening is a marvellous teacher and role model for balancing craft, family and maturity in the business and Viola Davis displays humanity and honesty in each performance. I am also inspired by Sherry Lansing and the late Laura Ziskin for their grace and good nature as executives committed to better opportunity and support for women and girls in all areas of life."

As a mentor, Sharon is keen for other women to share the mantle with her. "Listen first and resist the temptation to judge. Listen to your own heart and to another woman's story. Respect the differences and share what you know. Good leaders recognize that there is room for many perspectives, and that real success comes in being constructive rather than destructive. For young women aspiring to succeed in entertainment I would encourage them to travel and get out of their comfort zone. The stories you tell, even if they are about your own backyard will be told with a more interesting perspective."

To find out more about Sharon's charitable work visit her website. You can also follow her on Twitter.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1638546 2012-06-29T15:36:32-04:00 2012-08-29T05:12:05-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
My first Nora Ephron film was Sleepless in Seattle. It captivated me from my first viewing on a stormy Saturday afternoon, the perfect script with the perfect cast and the perfect ending. I quickly moved on to You've Got Mail, (another film which I can watch on repeat,) and the classic When Harry Met Sally. These three movies are for me, what watching a great piece of cinema should be- an opportunity to escape to another world and to dive head-first into a convincing and utterly charming story. The same can be said for Ephron's last film Julie & Julia, a magnificent journey into the culinary talents of Julia Child and Julie Powell.

I make no apologies for being different, and neither did Nora. Whilst my fellow high school classmates were captivated by the latest developments in the lives of reality television stars, I was discovering the magical world of classic Hollywood, and the films of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. Jacqueline Kennedy continues to be a role model for me, and reading about her courage and bravery has provided me with comfort through some of the hardest times of my life. There is something about being different, an inner sense of power which brings the self-determination to stand up and be noticed. Through every corner of her life, Nora demonstrated this. She broke barriers with the publication of her celebrated series of essays, including 'A Few Words About Breasts' in 1972. She turned her life with Carl Bernstein into the movie Heartburn, and continued her success over the years with films such as Sleepless in Seattle, and plays including Love, Loss and What I Wore. Her successful career is what I expect, and hope, that every female writer would dream of, and certainly aspire to.

In her own words, Nora inspires me to be "the heroine of my life," to be a strong woman embracing challenges and to not be frightened by the future. She encourages me to break the rules, make a little trouble and to not conform to the expectations of others. I followed Nora's advice when I went to Washington DC to intern on Capitol Hill, a lone girl from Wales in the political centre of the world. I continue to shatter the expectations (and assumptions) of not too distant relatives by my political passions, a move which continues to bring great satisfaction and humour to my daily life. I am confident that I will continue to break the expectations of others through my choices, and at times, there is nothing which makes me feel stronger.

The world needs strong women who make no apologies for who they are and for what they believe. Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Meryl Streep and Margaret Thatcher are a few names which spring immediately to my mind, all women in their chosen fields who have broken barriers (and hearts) along the way. Nora Ephron is up there as a forthright woman, dedicated to making a difference and staying true to her beliefs.

It is hard to comprehend that Nora Ephron has passed away from this world. Her death feels heart-achingly personal, even though I was never blessed with the good fortunate to meet her. She was a permanent fixture in our ever changing world, her talent, wit and graciousness impacting upon all of us in some way or another. Despite her passing, I will continue to look to Nora for guidance in my career and how to be a strong, courageous woman in all corners of my life. There can be a piece of Nora in all of us, and if we find the strength to seek it, her life and legacy can truly live on.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1628945 2012-06-28T07:42:00-04:00 2012-08-28T05:12:04-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/ The stress and strains of our always-connected lives can sometimes take us off course. GPS For The Soul can help you find your way back to balance.

GPS Guides are our way of showing you what works for others in the hopes that you can find out what works for yourself. Whether it's photos that relax you or make you smile, songs that bring you back to your heart, quotes or poems that balance you or meditative exercises that help de-stress you, we all have tricks that we use when we get bent out of shape. We encourage you to look at the GPS Guide below, visit our other GPS Guides here, and share with us your own personal tips for finding peace, balance and harmony.

The Huffington Post's GPS series has made me sit back and think about what helps me to relax, and make my life a little less stressful!



For more by Laura Dunn, click here.

For more GPS Guides, click here. ]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1622585 2012-06-25T04:31:41-04:00 2012-08-24T05:12:03-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/ Veep has arrived on British shores, replacing the cinéma vérité, political satire window that has been left empty by his previous work, The Thick Of It.

Set in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington DC, Veep provides us with an amusing window into the inner sanctum of the Vice President's Office. The incredibly dysfunctional Vice-President, Selina Meyer, is an individual obsessed with her image and popularity as well as carving out a legitimate legacy, much to the distaste of the ever-absent President. One of her main preoccupations is the passage of the Clean Jobs Act and filibuster reform, two pieces of legislation that are ultimately derailed by various issues and problems. Her staff's attempts to woo Senators and lobbyists deliver many of the series comical moments, as well as providing us with an insight into how the legislative branch operates.

The series highlights the ineffectiveness of her staff, with mini-dramas including the inappropriate use of Twitter, a staffer signing her own name instead of the VP's on a condolence card, and the 'reassignment' of a Secret Service Agent. It is perhaps Meyer's relationship with the absent President of United States that is the most interesting. Over time, we see his influence on his deputy commanding the upper hand, leading to Meyer declaring, "he is busting my lady-balls here." The VP is left out of fiscal briefings, asked to stand in at low-key fundraisers and even asked to head up a much hated obesity task force. In one episode, Meyer is rushed from a meeting to the Situation Room when she is told the President is experiencing severe chest pains. For a brief moment she is Leader of the Free World, but her dream ends when it transpires the President only had indigestion. Meyer always asks if the President has called, but unfortunately for her, he never does.

The insight into Vice President Meyer's personal life is particularly touching, and on more than one occasion I really felt for the character. Meyer's daughter makes an appearance in Episode Three, and whilst she appears to be unfazed by her mother's role, we quickly learn that their relationship is one of absence and reality. Meyer's guilt over her daughter comes to a head in the Season Finale, where her very public tears are manipulated by staffers Amy and Mike for a television interview and party fundraiser. Meyer's love life is similarly empty until the arrival of an influential Washington DC lawyer. Their brief affair results in an unwelcome pregnancy, and a hastily planned wedding over the telephone. This however, is not to last, with Meyer experiencing a miscarriage and asking body-man Gary to dump her lover on her behalf.

Almost entirely filmed on a set in Baltimore, Veep is in many ways spookily accurate. The set design depicts offices on Capitol Hill in the manner of which I remember, right down to the Congress branded notepads and high-tech coffee machines. The Vice President's office is what I would expect it to look like, the inner sanctum of a deputy's power, with the crowded staffer pen, and campaign mementos lining the walls.

Julia Louis Dreyfus is the perfect choice to portray the first fictional female Vice President since Mackenzie Allen on Commander in Chief. She is of course perfectly suited to the world of comedy, with her amazingly high stilettos and flawlessly curled hair inspiring many office chic ensembles on both sides of the Atlantic. Dreyfus makes the character real and importantly likeable despite her off the wall rants and dysfunctional manner of thinking. By the end of the first episode you will be aching to watch more, and thankfully, HBO has renewed Veep for a second season. The series is funny, slick and real, and is the best thirty minutes of television you will watch all summer.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1539075 2012-05-23T10:30:10-04:00 2012-07-23T05:12:05-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/ Victoria Ransom is the CEO of social media marketing company Wildfire, whose social media marketing software helps 30 of the world's top 50 brands to monetize audiences across social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Victoria founded the company in 2008 and in February 2012, Wildfire welcomed its 300th employee, having secured international growth of 500 percent in 2011.

What inspired you to start your own business?
My co-founder and I previously owned a travel company called Access Trips. When Facebook launched fan pages for businesses we wanted to market Access Trips on Facebook but we discovered that to run a sweepstake on our fan page we'd need to build an application. We decided to build one that would enable companies to create and run marketing campaigns on social networks -- with no technical expertise required. That turned into what we have today: the Wildfire Social Marketing Suite.

How would you encourage other individuals like yourself to start their own business?
First, be very critical of your idea. I see a lot of people who are in love with the idea of entrepreneurship and in an effort to get started they don't always critically examine their idea. If you have a good idea, it's likely that someone else will have come up with it too. If you look into the market and don't see anyone who's doing your idea already, ask yourself why? Is it because you're the first person to think of the idea or is it because the market opportunity isn't really there?

Second, if you are going to find a co-founder, choose extremely carefully. Pick someone that can complement you, not your friend from business school who has the same skills as you. Make very clear from the start who is going to do what and ensure you have the same vision for the company culture.

What differences/advantages do women in business have compared to men?
Women tend to be a bit more humble and more likely to share credit for success. This can be a disadvantage because the extent of our contribution might be overlooked, however in my experience, women in business are often hungrier to prove themselves and more driven to succeed than their male counterparts, which often gives them the advantage.

There are fewer female executives heading up big companies -- how can this trend be reversed?
I think that the trend is already being reversed but there's still a long way to go. Strong female role models are key to reversing this trend and at the moment there is a substantial wave of female tech entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Some of these women will go on to build or lead big businesses. This then sets an example for the next crop of young women, and it starts to self-perpetuate.

There are also some great organizations that help women entrepreneurs but I believe that engagement needs to start at school and university level, encouraging women at a young age to consider technology and entrepreneurship as a career. In my opinion, the relatively low number of women working in technology is due not to a lack of opportunity, but to there being a small proportion of women who consider it to be a viable career path.

What are your plans for the future?
At Wildfire, we are working on some major new product initiatives and we're opening offices in a number of international regions. We're also continuing to hire rapidly and aggressively scale our business as well as continuing to build a thriving employee and customer culture, and an innovative product.

The opportunities that have been afforded me by Wildfire are extremely fulfilling. Life at work is sufficiently exciting and rewarding that I haven't thought too much about my own future plans. I am living out my dream career so it's hard to see how it could get any better. My only plan is to do more snowboarding -- my second great love after Wildfire!]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1468470 2012-05-01T18:37:31-04:00 2012-07-01T05:12:24-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
One of my favorites is Saturday Night Live, the long-running comedy sketch program which airs on NBC in the U.S. President Obama, Vice President Biden and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are amongst those politicians who have been 'profiled' on the show, and the candidates of the current presidential election continue to be featured on a weekly basis, with Republican Mitt Romney perhaps facing the harshest criticism.

Romney is often portrayed as a bland politician willing to tell his audience what they literally want to hear. Continuous impressions of this nature reinforce Romney's inability to inform voters of his core beliefs, and over time, I believe this could seriously damage Romney's campaign for the presidency.

In the UK there is no parallel show to SNL, although Have I Got News For You comes pretty close to providing political entertainment. Many politicians have appeared as guests on the BBC program, and in some circumstances, former MPs such as Boris Johnson and John Prescott have even hosted the show. Whilst HIGNFY is particularly brilliant, it has not had the same impact on the UK political environment that SNL and other American comedy shows continue to do in their native land.

Saturday Night Live made headlines in the 2008 presidential election, identifying the clear media bias against Sen. Hillary Clinton in her race for the Democratic nomination. One of these sketches featured Amy Poehler as Sen. Clinton and Fred Armisen as Sen. Obama, and clearly defined what some believed at the time as 'different levels' of questioning during live televised debates. The sketch show also helped to define the 'character' of Gov. Sarah Palin, featuring Tina Fey as Palin accompanied by the real governor in a mock press conference. This parody, along with the "Alaska Rap," is perhaps one of the best known and funniest in SNL's entire history, and one that will continue to be played for generations of elections to come.

Other influential comedy/political hybrid television shows include the The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Airing on cable and satellite channel Comedy Central, comedians Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are influential in shaping the daily conversation of the American political world. Surveys conducted by institutes such as the Pew Research Center have shown that regular viewers of The Daily Show tend to be more knowledgeable about news than audiences of other news sources. Both shows have been and continue to be at the forefront of topical issues, with The Daily Show campaigning for improved healthcare rights for 9/11 emergency responders and The Colbert Report's continuing discussions over Super PACs. They continue to have strong viewing ratings, with politicians such as Nancy Pelosi have publicly admitting that she sets her DVR recorder so not to miss an episode.

From Texts from Hillary to appearances by former British Prime Minister's Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on Comic Relief, satirical politics will continue to have a place in our modern media world. Candidates such as Mitt Romney should be aware of the dangers that hybrid news shows present, with the ability to make and shape the news agenda. Both Barack Obama and John McCain appeared on Saturday Night Live during their race for the residency, and one wonders if Mitt Romney will embrace this precedent before Election Day.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1430504 2012-04-17T19:00:00-04:00 2012-06-17T05:12:01-04:00

Laura Dunn http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dunn/
The statistics speak for themselves: the global average of women holding parliamentary seats remains under 20%, a below average figure of the 30% target set in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action. At this current rate, the target will not be reached on globally before 2025, and indeed long beyond that in many other countries. 16% of ministers are women, with academic research demonstrating that women in politics are traditionally given 'soft' positions, dealing with policy areas including social welfare, families, and women.

If we look at the UK government, only four women are cabinet ministers- Teresa May as Home Secretary, Justine Greening as Minister for Transport, Caroline Spelman at Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Cheryl Gillan as Secretary of State for Wales. Personally, I don't regard these four portfolios as soft topics, and indeed these four women are currently in control of some of the most challenging areas of legislation and policy development. I find it startling that in the second decade of the 21st century only 5% of Heads of State are women, examples including Queen Elizabeth II and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. We must do better to raise this statistic before the decade is out.

It is perhaps the National Assembly for Wales who has paved the way towards equality for women in UK political life. In the short history of the Welsh Assembly, female AMs have held at least half of the Cabinet positions. The Third Assembly saw four women in Ministerial roles, with another three made Deputy Ministers. The current Fourth Assembly sees female AMs continuing to have a great impact in the Welsh government, with three women, Edwina Hart, Lesley Griffiths and Jane Hutt holding the respective portfolios of Business, Health, and Finance. Women continue to be influential at many other levels in the National Assembly including a Deputy Minister, a Chief Whip, two party Commissioners and one as the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. The National Assembly also saw its selection of Rosemary Butler as the first female Presiding Officer in 2011.

Helen Clark was keen to stress that the critical mass of women is an important factor, particularly for ensuring that democracy is fairly represented. Gender equality is a basic right in the United Nations charter, and under Clark's tenure, the establishment of UN Women has created a clear vision of equality and empowerment for women across the globe. The focus areas included combating violence against women, building towards peace and security, encouraging leadership and participation, creating economic empowerment and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. All of these are serious issues that need to be addressed, and with positive examples of success I believe that these are areas which can be achieved in some of the world's most impoverished nations.

Perhaps one of the most interesting discussions of the evening was focused towards the use of quotas for selecting female politicians. This technique has been used in Wales, and was particularly successful in electing women to the National Assembly in 2007. Since devolution, the proportion of Assembly Members who are women has never dropped below forty percent, and the 2007 election saw a high of 51%, achieving new levels of gender parity. Parties including Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru did not use this technique in last year's Assembly elections, and a total of 24 women were elected to serve in the Fourth Assembly. Whilst this is a great achievement, one does wonder that if quotas had been used would more women be sitting in Cardiff Bay?

This year, the United Nations released a 'best practice' guide to help promote female political participation. 'Empowering Women for Political Parties' identifies targeted interventions for promoting the stronger presence and influence of women in political parties, as well as advancing gender equality issues in political parties and platforms. Some of these measures including expanding and training the pool of women candidates, establishing women's sections of parties and setting targets for female participation will, I believe, help to positively increase the levels of women involved in politics.

Clark was keen to stress that women who feel passionate about making a difference should be politically active. So ladies, whatever your political direction, get out there, be active and change the world!]]>