MEDIA: Get on a level playing field

An intriguing new business helps women understand sport as a way to converse at work.

Aequus Partners Diversity and Flexibility e-newsletter: July 2010.

During our research for this newsletter we discovered an innovative approach to gender training, developed by Paula Ward. Drawing on corporate experience in human resources, change management and psychology, Paula has developed Know The Game to educate people about sport.

Workshops teach people who are unfamiliar with a particular sport about the fundamental rules and structure of the game so they know enough to engage in discussions with others about it. A core focus is to enable women to be included in discussions with senior executives when the topic invariably turns to sport, and to feel more confident about hosting clients and liaising with colleagues at corporate sporting events.

In a country like Australia, where sport can dominate conversation, Know The Game is an interesting approach to building women's capability to engage in conversations with men, for example about football, rugby union and cricket.