I was the first person in my family to pursue a professional career.
My parents worked hard and instilled values in me which I live by today. But there were limits to how they could support me at the start of my career, which left me to navigate it with no guidance.
There were times when I made decisions that didn’t support my professional growth. There were other times when I was confronted with indignities such as sexual harassment or micro-aggressive behavior which I was ill equipped to handle.
When I reflect on those times, I know I could’ve benefited from the wisdom of a successful career woman.
Someone who could offer understanding and a nudge in the right direction. It would’ve been so valuable to have someone remind me that I wasn’t responsible for other people’s misbehavior.
You understand the intricacies of how to be successful in an environment that at times can be inhospitable to women.
But how can you leverage your powerful insight and experience to support the next generation of women leaders?
Find the full transcript and other resources for women leaders at http://www.livingwhileleading.com/10
The Role of Women IT Executives in Empowering Young Talent
As an established leader, you have a responsibility—a duty even—to extend your hand to the younger generation. To illustrate why this is essential, let’s take a walk down memory lane and reflect on your own experiences in the workplace.
- Think back to the early days of your career when the expectations seemed overwhelming or even impossible to achieve?
How often did you wish you had access to a trusted resource to express your fears, doubts, and challenges to without being judged? This would have been so much more validating than being told “toughen up and stop complaining” any time you displayed vulnerability.
- What about all the times when you received guidance by someone who didn’t fully appreciate the unique challenges faced by women in the workplace?
How much could you have gained from counsel that addressed the juggling act of work and life, dealing with biases, or how to stand tall in predominantly male spaces?
- How about those opportunities that slipped by because you didn’t belong to the “right” network or didn’t even know they existed? You probably wished for an advocate who would’ve endorse you, even when you weren’t in the room.
With the benefit of hindsight, you now understand the cumulative impact these slipped opportunities had on your earning power and career trajectory.
The Role of Women Leaders in Breaking the Cycle of Struggle
The trials and tribulations you faced early in your career shaped you and made you resilient. However, I would like to discourage you from considering those experiences as a standard for upcoming generations.
The hurdles career women faced in the pre-internet era have evolved considerably compared to those in digital-age. Modern times present new and unique challenges for next generation.
Expecting young women to overcome the same barriers you faced can blind you to the changing nature of professional challenges and rob you of the opportunity to mentor effectively.
Executive Women Have the Power to Support Young Women’s Careers
You’re supremely qualified to contribute to creating a more streamlined path to success that supports the collective progress of young women.
Consider these 3 recommendations:
- Mentorship and Sponsorship: Commit to mentoring. Share your experiences, offer guidance, and provide feedback.
For additional impact, go beyond mentoring and sponsor young women. Introduce them to your network, recommend them for opportunities, and be their biggest cheerleader. There’s a profound difference between offering advice and actively uplifting someone.
The impact of helping young women advance their careers cannot be overstated in terms of economic empowerment and the creation of generational wealth.
- Create Safe Forums: Organize, promote or participate in activities aimed at addressing challenges specific to women leaders.
These forums should foster open dialogue, encourage vulnerability, celebrate every victory and reinforce the message that young women aren’t alone in their journey.
- Advocate for Change: Use your position and influence to challenge and change systemic biases in the workplace. Whether it’s pushing for flexible work policies, equal pay, or more inclusive hiring practices. There is no one more qualified than you to fight for these causes.
The essence of leadership is not just about leading — it’s about paving the way for those who follow you. Your contribution to women at the beginning of their careers will facilitate their growth and enable inclusivity.
Your legacy will live on in the countless women you’ve supported in crafting a more equitable future for them. The impact will be exponential and felt by their families and the communities they live in.
You’ll find this to be one of the most gratifying aspects of your career.
Remember, you’re the solution to claiming what’s important to you!
