For Dr Joanna Pearce, leadership isn’t about a title – it’s about action. As a lecturer and course coordinator in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, she discovered this transformative insight through a place on the pilot program of Aurora, Advance HE’s leadership ignition journey.
“The thing that really resonated with me was that leadership is a verb, not a position,” reflects Dr Pearce. “You don’t necessarily need to have the title of a leader to be a leader. That really set the tone for my entire experience.”
A unique approach to women’s leadership
Aurora is a leadership ignition journey, inspiring women to achieve their career goals in higher education through a combination of individual and group learning, mentoring and networking.
It is run as a unique partnership bringing together leadership experts, higher education providers, and research institutes to take positive action to address the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions in the sector.
In June 2024, Advance HE ran the pilot of a contextualised version in Australia, which welcomed 52 participants from six universities.
What drew Dr Pearce to the program was its distinctive focus on women’s perspectives in academia. “While there are numerous leadership courses available, this one was led by women for women,” she explains.
“It offers unique insights into what it’s like to be a woman within academia, recognising that there are differences in how leadership is approached from male and female perspectives.”
Shared challenges, common ground
One of the Aurora program’s most valuable aspects is its ability to bring together women facing similar challenges across different institutions. From navigating motherhood while working to planning career advancement, participants find common ground in their experiences.
“It opened my eyes to recognising that many of the challenges, advantages and circumstances I experienced as a female academic are shared by others across various institutions,” says Dr Pearce.
Practical leadership skills in action
Participating in Aurora has already influenced Dr Pearce’s approach to leadership in tangible ways. She shares two key strategies she’s implemented:
- The balcony perspective: “Going up on the balcony and taking that overview approach helps you see the bigger picture. But it’s crucial to remember the voices on the ground floor – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to be heard, even if their opinions differ from yours.”
- Shared responsibility: “Learning to temporarily take responsibility for decisions or tasks, then thoughtfully delegating aspects back to capable team members has been transformative. We often take on everything ourselves, but that’s not always the most effective approach.”
A transformative investment
Dr Pearce emphasises the value of investing in the program. “Don’t be put off by the time commitment,” she advises. “The days are long and you cover substantial ground, but once you let the dust settle and process what you’ve learned, it’s definitely worthwhile.”
For Dr Pearce, now navigating the transition from early to mid-career stage, the Aurora program arrived at the perfect time. It has helped her set clear goals for the next five to 10 years while challenging her to reflect deeply on her values and career aspirations.
She encourages future participants to approach the program with an open mind, ready to embrace new perspectives and ways of thinking. “You may find someone might give you a perspective that you’ve not thought of before, or a way of doing something you hadn’t considered.”
Watch the video interview with Dr Joanna Pearce in full here.
About the author: Dr Joanna Pearce is a lecturer and course coordinator in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia.
This article has been kindly repurposed from Advance HE and you can read the original here.