Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Thanks to today’s partner Genea
When a male McKinsey partner dismissed the glass cliff as “a very convenient way to always be a victim in the rain”, women urged him to examine the evidence.
His response? That he wouldn’t bother researching it because it didn’t rank among the world’s top thousand problems.
Today Shannon Nutter, who wrote the book that led to the above partner’s outburst, explains why the problem runs far deeper than one man’s LinkedIn comment, and how easily research on women’s leadership can be dismissed.
Meanwhile, Dr Helen Haines remains in a critical condition after surgery to save her remaining leg.
As a young woman working in politics, Alexandra Browning says the horrific attack can’t deter her generation. We need more people like Helen Haines in Parliament, and everywhere.
And Rita Nasr decries the political pressure cooker we’re in and the abuse that’s been building: a female councillor whose car was firebombed, the ‘ditch the witch’ signs targeting former premier Jacinta Allan and the women MPs receiving sexualised and physical abuse and deepfakes.
Turns out women who use AI for career advice are more likely to be recommended lower salaries and encouraged to consider flexibility and caregiving. Given the bias already built into these models, it’s not surprising.
In our 2026 national survey in partnership with Cultivate, 63% of women said their employer doesn't offer adequate mentoring or sponsorship. Cultivate built Australia's first research-grounded sponsorship program, pairing high-potential women and First Nations talent with senior leaders who can open doors. Explore the program here.
Angela Priestley
Founding Editor & Publisher
The Key Quote
I couldn't even count the number of death threats, rape threats that I've had over the years, including ones that have ended up in court. The thing that's changed most is the industrial scale of that abuse now.
Tanya Plibersek
Labor minister Tanya Plibersek has opened up about the amount of death and rape threats she receives regularly in the wake of the attack on Helen Haines.
On Women's Agenda Today
Mary Coustas on menopause and why sometimes, you just have to laugh
After years of struggling to understand her menopause symptoms, Mary co-founded Unpause to help women access better midlife healthcare. Read more +
73,700 part-time jobs just disappeared. They’re the jobs solo mums rely on
September’s jobs figures showed a significant fall in part-time work, writes Mandy Richards. Here’s why that deserves more than a footnote. Read more +
Marc Fennell on boys, the manosphere and why parents can’t solve this crisis alone
The State of Man, Marc Fennell’s three-part documentary on The ABC examines masculinity, the manosphere and the forces shaping boys’ lives. Read more +
Too many pregnant women face ‘sham’ redundancies. A new report reveals how it happens
The report found discrimination often occurs when workers disclose a pregnancy, return from parental leave or manage caring responsibilities. Read more +
We need more people like Helen Haines in Parliament. This horrific attack can’t deter my generation from putting our hands up
We need more people like Helen Haines in Parliament. Read more +
The Key Figure
3
The number of charges 43-year-old Brendan Nugent is facing over his alleged attack on Indi MP Helen Haines. They are: dangerous driving causing serious injury, intentionally causing serious injury and causing harm to a Commonwealth public official.
The win
Townsville’s Abbey Ellis scors 47 points in WNBL, the most by one player in two decades
Townsville WNBL player Abbey Ellis has scored the most points by one player in a single game in more than two decades. She scored 47 points in Townsville’s win over Adelaide in the first round of the season.
On The Women's Agenda Podcast
Check out our weekly podcast
This weekend marks World Menopause Day! We speak with Mary Caustas to learn more about her own peri and menopause experience, and why she founded UnPause to help women feel more informed and supported through this stage of life. Mary is a comedian, actress and founder. She came to television fame in the 1980s for her portrayal of the iconic Greek-Australian character Effie Stephanidis in the comedy series Acropolis Now, winning a Logie Award for Best Comedy Performer.
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