Homeward Bound is a ground-breaking leadership initiative, set against the backdrop of Antarctica, which aims to heighten the influence and impact of women in making decisions that shape our planet.
It was (literally) the dream of Fabian Dattner (Australian leadership activist and consultant), who in collaboration with Antarctic marine scientist Jess-Melbourne Thomas, initially made Homeward Bound a reality. Together, they garnered the support of significant scientific bodies and women of influence, created a strong leadership team and teaching faculty and got the project off the ground. In 2015, the project went viral and the first leadership program and Antarctic voyage took place in 2016.
Why Women?
Despite making up 45% of the global workforce, women are globally underrepresented in leadership positions. This is despite women comprising 57% of recent college graduates. By providing these women with leadership and strategic skills, a sound understanding of the science, and a strong purposefully developed network, we will enhance their ability to impact policy and decision-making for a sustainable future.
Why Antarctica?
Regions of Antarctica are showing the fastest responses to some of the global sustainability problems we currently face. Antarctica offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe first hand the influence of human activities on the environment and provide critical insights into the global-scale change required. This iconic environment has captured the imagination of leaders in the past and the expedition experience of the Antarctic component of the Homeward Bound program creates strong bonds between participants.
Why Now?
If not now, when? The sustainability of our planet is in crisis and so is the state of leadership in our world. Homeward Bound aims to contribute to both these global issues.
Launched in 2016, the inaugural program culminated in the largest ever female expedition to Antarctica. Homeward Bound has led three cohorts of women through the year-long state-of-the-art program and Antarctic voyage.
Homeward Bound’s Vision
What if men and women led our world in equal measure – would our world and the decisions we make on behalf of future generations be different?
Would we be more collaborative, inclusive, more legacy minded and more trustworthy with assets, people and money?
Homeward Bound believes that supporting women in science to significantly improve their clarity, confidence, shared vision and strategic capability will enhance their opportunity to take up leadership roles globally and to proactively contribute to a sustainable world both individually and collectively.
In doing this, we aim to create a new way of leading better suited to the world we are now living in, with a greater focus on the concept of a ‘global home’ – led with integrity, a drive for results, an ability to motivate others, a deep care for relationships and the will to collaborate towards this shared ambition.
It’s not that men can’t or won’t do this. Rather that, when time is short it may be that the balance of men and women on leadership teams will serve us all.
Over ten years, Homeward Bound will build a global collaboration of 1,000 women with scientific backgrounds. They will be visible, collaborative, networked and impacting the decisions made in many quarters for the greater good.
This is a small but meaningful contribution to a very complex challenge we all face.
Homeward Bound is a transformational leadership initiative for women with a background in STEMM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine), from around the world.
The program has four core development components, or ‘Streams’: leadership , strategy, visibility, and science. These are delivered during a 12-month program, with online content and collaborative learning (11 months), and face-to-face on the ground in Ushuaia, Argentina (pre-voyage) and also on-board ship voyaging to Antarctica. Additionally, a Wellbeing Team ensures a focus on psychological safety and wellbeing throughout the program.
The key components are woven together into an integrated program, delivered by an expert global faculty. The live program is also supported by recorded content from leading experts and influencers within their fields. The program comprises lectures, personal and leadership development tools, coaching sessions, visibility training and the opportunity to develop meaningful collaborations – in forums, in teams with a focus on areas of interest, and in small diverse cohorts.
Click here to learn more about the program’s key components and expected outcomes.
Meet HB4
The 95 women selected for the fourth Homeward Bound Program all have a background (that is, a degree qualification, or equivalent) in science, technology, engineering, mathematics or medicine (STEMM). They come from all over the globe, cover a broad range of professions, occupations and career levels, and were selected based on their potential to have an impact on decision making as it relates to the state of the planet.
HB4’s online program started in November 2018 and will conclude in November 2019 in Antarctica. Meet the 95 women from 33 countries selected to be part of #TeamHB4 here.
To follow our journey, subscribe to my newsletter and receive the updates in your inbox. If you want to support my participation in Homeward Bound, you can make a donation through my crowdfunding page.
