‘We delude ourselves if we think we can achieve a vibrant film culture and prosperous film industry if only half of the talent, skills and creative flair of humankind is marshalled.’
Amanda Nevill, former Chief Executive Officer, BFI
Are you a woman in a senior management position in film exhibition who would like to take creative control of a major venue or step up into a top role at a film festival?
Women’s Leadership is a complete toolkit to take a giant leap in your career, giving you great connections, an unbeatable skill set and the confidence to step into your dream job.
About the programme
Women’s Leadership is an intensive training programme featuring one-to-one coaching, regular skills development workshops and high-level networking.
Who is it for?
Applicants must be women who have over three years’ experience working in a senior managerial position in the film exhibition sector (e.g. at a cinema or film festival). Applicants should work for, or work closely with, a FAN member organisation(s).
What are some of the topics that will be covered during the programme?
- Positive leadership (What’s new? What’s useful? What’s helpful to you?)
- Stepping up – The Transition Model
- Emotional resilience – having energy and focus to achieve your goals
- Personal branding and leadership strengths
- Influencing and building your network
- Self insight to your Motivation Value System
- Resilience strategies – how to keep yourself resourceful and resilient in the face of change
Who delivers the course?
The course is principally delivered by inspirational executive coach Dr Lucy Ryan and the Director of the Independent Cinema Office, Catharine Des Forges, following a tried and tested methodology that has built a stellar reputation within the industry and has been transformative for previous participants (scroll down to read some testimonials from previous participants). The course also has selected input from a wide panel of industry experts and the Women’s Leadership alumni network.
“The best training experience of my life”
Caroline Hennigan, Broadway Nottingham
When and how will the course run?
The course is a mixture of in-person and online events. The course includes an intensive two-day/overnight group retreat in Bristol in November 2021.
Course Dates:
- Session 1: Wed 3 November (10am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 2: Fri 5 November (10am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 3: Wed 10 November (9:30am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 4: Wed 17 – Thurs 18 November (All day) – In-person (Bristol)
- Session 5: Tues 11 January (9:30am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 6: Wed 2 February (9.30am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 7: Wed 9 March (10am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 8: Fri 11 March (10am – 12pm) – Online
- Session 9: Early April (TBC) – In-person (London)
Exact locations for these sessions are still to be confirmed. You must be available to attend all dates and ideally have some flexibility around these months in order to take part in any further one-to-one meetings.
Applications are now closed.
Fees and support
The total cost is £1,150 which includes course fees, overnight accommodation for the retreat, materials, coaching and some meals.
You can apply for a bursary toward course fees and travel/accommodation via your regional Film Hub.
You can also apply for a bursary to support your attendance at training activities from ScreenSkills here.
If the cost of attending is a deciding consideration for you, please contact the training team to discuss your options at: training@independentcinemaoffice.org.uk.
Speakers
Dr. Lucy Ryan
Executive Coach
As an executive coach (qualified to Master Practitioner level with the EMCC), business psychologist and trainer for the last 20 years, I’m passionate about developing people so that their confidence, impact and natural talents grow and flourish. This means that I am fascinated with helping teams and individuals find their voice; develop their presence; have impact in the Boardroom and lead and motivate their teams with passion and insight. In the last decade I have worked with leaders from diverse organisations across Europe including BBC; OMD; Principality Building Society; Arval; Siemens; UNICEF and the ICO (Independent Cinema Organisation). I am a member of the Association of Coaching, a trainer with the Penn Resilience Programme team, certified as an NLP Master Practitioner and licensed to administrate the VIA-PRO Strengths Survey; the MSCEIT (the Emotional Intelligence Ability Test) and the Strengths Deployment Inventory. I have published 2 books, including ‘Personal Well-Being Lessons for Secondary Schools’, published in the UK, France and Holland. My new leadership book, Lunchtime Learning for Leaders' will be published through Kogan Page in 2021.I’m Honorary Lecturer at the University of East London in the Application of Positive Psychology to Coaching and Organisations and keynote speaker across Europe. I hold a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from the University of Liverpool, with a focus on female executives at midlife.
Catharine Des Forges
Director, Independent Cinema Office
Catharine is Director of the Independent Cinema Office. She founded it in 2003 and continues to lead on the overall strategy and development of the company. Prior to founding the ICO, she worked at the BBC, the BFI, Arts Council England, as a Senior Programmer at the National Film Theatre, programmed the Encounters Film Festival in Bristol and worked as a freelance film programmer both in the UK and internationally. She has an MA in Film & Television from the University of London, has lectured in film and media at a number of UK universities, and is an experienced moderator and Q&A host as well as a contributor to a number of UK newspapers and magazines. She sits on the Steering Group for London’s Screen Archives and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Testimonials
Gali Gold
Head of Cinema, Barbican
ICO’s women leadership course both highlights and addresses the lack of women in senior roles in film exhibition. Dedicating time and attention to the barriers with the aim of acquiring the tools to overcome them was invaluable. Doing so in the company of other women whose experiences and ambitions are shared in a friendly, collegial and inspiring way was just a treat. The lightbulb moments, the support and the encouragement I’ve gained in the course are very present as I continue and progress in my career.
Holly Tarquini
Executive Director, FilmBath
The number one thing I got out of this course was getting to know a group of remarkable, inspiring, uplifting women who are all on a similar path to me. That combined with the outstanding coaching, mentoring and self-development left us all transformed. I highly recommend doing the course if you get the chance.
Melanie Iredale
Director, Birds' Eye View
Participating on the ICO’s Women’s Leadership course 2019-2020 helped me to better understand and grow into my own authentic leadership style whilst dispelling the imposter syndrome that can come with an inherited view of what leadership is “supposed to” look and sound like. As well as taking a lot from the individual and group coaching we received, I also gained through peer-to-peer learning throughout the course, and beyond, as our cohort formed a fantastic supportive network who continue to meet regularly. Possibly having the course on my CV helped 18 months later when I applied for the role of Director of Birds’ Eye View, but certainly it gave me the confidence to take on the role knowing more fully the leadership qualities and ambitions I could bring to it.
Lizzie Banks
Producer, Oska Bright Film Festival
I’ve always had an image in my head of what a leader should be, but this course helped me rewrite that. It was transformative for me. Through inspiring sessions and mentoring, it allowed me to gain confidence in myself, to see the strengths and skills I have, and to realise that these make me the leader I am. A definite highlight is the network of incredible women that I’m now part of. I’ve been able to see myself in a new light. I am content with the way I lead and know that my own personal style is something to be proud of.
Supported by the BFI Film Audience Network
