holding the space

Karen Ambrose, Chief Data Officer & Head of Data Management and Analytic Platforms, The Francis Crick Institute.

The Women in Science group has recently been established as a safe space for women in leadership positions within a science/technical related role in the UK. This group provides an opportunity for its like-minded participants to share truthful common challenges, offer support and guidance for one another and the use of open communication channels to enable responsive and accessible contact. Externally, the group represents credible and successful role models who are keen to be the figureheads in challenging the status quo, promote professionalism and authenticity, share their experience and learnings and advocate the need to have women in positions of leadership and seniority across the board.

I’m Karen Ambrose, Chief Data Officer & Head of Data Management and Analytic Platforms at The Francis Crick Institute, an independent charity, a UK flagship for biomedical research, whose main mission is Discovery without Boundaries. The institute, located in St Pancras, is one of the largest biomedical institutes in Europe, all under one roof.

I have worked in IT for many years, as a Black Woman of African/Caribbean heritage, 1^st generation British, Education! Education! Education! was the mantra growing up. Knowledge is power to ensure that you are always in a position to challenge. I grew up in an area in Yorkshire where we were in the minority but the integration of communities appeared to work well. There were quite a few different cultures, a great opportunity to learn, build awareness and enjoy the benefit of being in a multicultural society.

I was recently asked – What is it like to be Black in this organisation? – quite a direct question but one that made me think……

My initial answer was a very political one, initially slightly taken aback by such a direct question but very energised that someone is aware and engaged enough to ask the question, understanding that my experience under the skin may be different to what is expressed on the surface, in order to be professional.

I have had to channel the strong black woman trope in the face of pockets of support and pockets of ignorance, developing the skills to handle adversity graciously and turning the rejection into a redirection to success in order to grow, strive and progress. Identifying my non-negotiable core values early, like respect, equity, integrity and being comfortable that decisions are made with the correct intentions, however difficult, were key to developing and being comfortable in my authenticity and the ability to navigate the increasingly complex social landscape.

What does it mean to really Hold the Space?

“Holding the Space” is a phrase that I coined over the last few years, during my voluntary EDI work within the institute. It resonated with my core values of equity and authenticity, ensuring that everyone from all parts of an organisation are able to contribute to its cultural development, continuing to build an increasingly diverse and inclusive environment. Not only holding the space for others but holding the door open, so others can follow in the path that we have created. The more diverse the population the more comfortable everyone feels leading to great productivity and the potential for amazing outcomes.

Holding the space is the ability to be socially gracious, with the self-awareness to advocate for others, identifying that not everyone may be comfortable or feel senior enough to advocate for themselves effectively, but ensuring that you are not self-sacrificing i.e., continuously putting others needs before your own, supressing your own opinion for fear of upsetting others, or forgetting that the first person that you need to hold the space for is yourself.

Understanding self and ascertaining the core values to you, are the key to identifying who you are and how you exhibit and illicit support to and from others, respectively.

In the work environment, women are hugely underrepresented in senior and executive positions and even less representation exists for minority groups.

At a senior or executive level, who holds the space…. while we are being advocates for others, again who advocates for us?  What are we as senior leaders aiming for in this space… peace of mind, mental wellbeing, support, sense of being part of the strategy….?

Looking at various business areas, specific academies have been setup to promote women and build diversity in organisations e.g. F1 Academy, Hamilton Commission. The backing and support from allies in all areas is essential for survival and progression. We cannot succeed in isolation in order for the culture to change, it requires enlightenment across all areas, all groups, all levels and working together to ensure change sticks and becomes part of the long-term culture.  

The advice or steer that I would share from my career and the experiences from which I have learnt today are as follows:

• Leading by example – aiming to demonstrate what good looks like and treating others how you would like to be treated.
• Identify your core values and become comfortable with it – these will feed into your continuing authenticity and ability to navigate the space.
• Be a good citizen and advocate – ensure that you chair groups effectively and always work as an advocate in the space, whether you are the chair or not. We all have an obligation to be a good citizen and create a space where all can provide input, contribute to a discussion and help to develop the environment to support all members of the team.
• Every experience is a teaching moment – Reverse mentoring is a great opportunity involving both senior and junior members, being honestly open to the experience and the opportunity to learn, adapt and adopt. There must be a willingness to teach and an openness to learn where the power dynamic is in reverse.  There is an opportunity to widen knowledge and grow by honestly engaging in uncomfortable conversations that both parties can learn from. 
• Take your time and your space – advocate for yourself, ensure that you provide yourself the space to think, taking your time is not a crime. 
• Your contribution is valuable – as women, when called upon to participate, we always appear to rush our contribution, ensure you take YOUR time to share your input and even if someone tries to talk over you while you are providing your contribution, take your time to explain your point, your way, in the way you would like to deliver it. You are the only person who knows what you are going to say.
• Take time out for yourself – the higher you elevate, the more political the landscape to navigate. It can have an impact on your mental health. While looking out for yourself professionally, you also need to protect self while being authentic – tiring does not even cut it.

Finally, holding the space means to show up for others and yourself, holding true to your core values despite the contrary pressure and being fully present in order to advocate effectively, challenging yourself honestly.  

A complex landscape.

When the space is not held for you by others, you step in and hold the space!

Karen Ambrose, Chief Data Officer & Head of Data Management and Analytic Platforms, The Francis Crick Institute,