When I told a friend that I had recently been to hear a panel talking about gender equality in the workplace – and the twist was the panel was all male – his initial reaction was a snort of disbelief and a question: “what’s the point of that?” 

This was my cue to launch into the reasons why men absolutely do need to be part of the conversation and to explain that the panel debate, entitled The Male Perspective on Career Challenges Women Face, and organised by Mentoring Circle, was in fact a positive, uplifting event.

I have been to a few Mentoring Circle events now. They tend to be well attended by the women mentees and mentors who sign up to the programme of events and networking opportunities. There have been guest speakers who are men in the past, but mostly it is women talking to women and supporting each other as they navigate their careers in property and construction – and it seems to work pretty effectively.

But this panel debate was designed to be a bit different – with three men giving their views on how individuals and employers can help to level the playing field so that more women not only enter the industry but go on to achieve the most senior roles within it. 

There is now a widespread recognition that self-help among women’s networks can only go so far. Ultimately men have to be part of the solution too because this is not a women’s issue: it is a societal issue, and for employers it is a business issue.

So what was this panel’s take on gender equality? The three men speaking in a personal capacity were Seb Fossey, managing director of McGee, Dean Summers, managing director of St James London South, and John Redfern, head of London Business Space at Savills.

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