International Women’s Day is over for another year, but there are plenty of reasons to keep the conversation going. For starters, only 4% of America’s major corporations currently have female CEOs. That’s a pretty big reality check, and one that got me wondering who those 4% were. It didn’t take me long to find this Forbes.com list of The 10 Best companies For Women in 2013, which led me to several other insightful, related reads, including this and this.
This trifecta of women-in-the-workplace reads spotlight everything you want to know: what companies are doing equality and advancement right, which are offering fair compensation, and which jobs should be on your list if you’re planning a career switch.
If you haven’t already been raising your eyebrow at your own company (assuming you’re not in the leading role), perhaps floating the question, “What initiatives do we have in place to support women’s advancement?” is a good place to start. That might earn you a scowl, but in this day and age, it is a fair query that deserves attention.
On the flip side, if you think your company IS doing a great job regarding this topic, please leave a comment here and tell us about it.
ALL TALK, NO ACTION?
International Women’s Day also prompted thoughtful dialogue about the lasting impact of current leadership initiatives, as well as this Women’s Leadership Wish List for 2013. What do you think of No.4: Men Need to Be Part of the Conversation and Help Drive the Solutions. There’s one for your next roundtable discussion or board meeting…
Forget about the men for a moment though, and focus on what you, me and we can do to make a difference, regardless of how big or small of a business we’re employed by or own. Need some inspiration? This post by Ekaterina Walter takes a look at the essential characteristics of women leaders, straight from women who are successfully shaking things up. Maybe you have something to add.
Now if you really want to be inspired, tuck in tonight with this collection of profiles, highlighting seven women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls around the globe. You may not have known who Margot Franssen, Deloris Jordan, Musimbi Kanyoro, Jurate Kazickas, Gry Larsen, Heidi Lehmann and Christine Mau were yesterday, but you won’t forget them after today.
And, hopefully you won’t forget about all the powerful women you know personally that are making a difference in—and out—of the business environment. Many of you (and them) are also moms, which I suspect also leaves you thinking about how to encourage your daughter’s career goals. This post by Sylvia RJ Scott, the Founder and Managing Director of The Girl’s CEO Connection™ and Realizing a Vision conference, should prove to be a valuable jumping off point.
Dawn Elyse Warden-Reeder
A former lifestyles magazine editor and reporter covering an array of topics including philanthropy and business, health and well-being, sustainability, fashion, music and food, Dawn entered the public relations and social media field in 2010 as Executive Partner of The Whole Enchilada PR, now the culinary division of The Warden Ettinger Group. You can find Dawn on LinkedIn and Twitter (@eatDEWwrite).
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