Happy International Women’s Day: Four Powerful Practices for Leaders to Champion Equality and Allyship in the Workplace

On this International Women's Day, I'm reflecting on the many amazing women in my life and the many people that have supported me throughout my career. I've always had a passion for lifting up other women – both in my professional career and how I give my personal time outside of work and I had some great role models in my grandma and mom who demonstrated what hard work and lifting up others looks like. Growing up as a young girl in Puerto Rico, I witnessed my own mother’s unwavering determination and resilience as a single parent. She put herself through college and law school, all to create a better life for her, and her two daughters.

Now as a mom myself, leader, and mentor to other women, I get the chance to pay it forward. I believe that fostering a culture of inclusion not only allows people to feel seen and heard, but also leads to better business outcomes, better customer experiences, and improved employee retention.

In celebration of International Women's Day, here four powerful practices for leaders to champion equality and allyship in the workplace, and the reminder that our goal is always progress over perfection. We will make mistakes, learn, and be better for championing a better workplace and world, together!

1.?Develop a Culture of Deep Learning: Cultivate a culture of learning and allyship – it is a personal responsibility and a lifelong journey. Invest time in understanding challenges faced by others to become a better ally. Encourage diversity, hire from varied perspectives, and create an environment where everyone feels respected and valued, without fear or reprimand. Amplify women’s and diverse voices, ensuring all perspectives are heard.

2.?Embrace Empathy: Put yourself in others' shoes and encourage your team members to do the same. By fostering empathy, we create a more inclusive environment that values diverse viewpoints.

3.?Practice Active Listening: Active listening is hard to do, but critical to practicing empathy and understanding our own biases. Not everyone is going to have the same frame of reference, and by actively listening, we learn and lift others' voices. ?

4. Take Action and Accountability: Move beyond intentions and start with simple, actionable steps. Being an ally doesn’t mean that you’re all-knowing. It means that you’re willing to proactively educate yourself, especially when you don’t know something. Expanding your cultural, social, and racial awareness is one way to use your privilege as a leader to benefit others. Start with the simple things. Model inclusive behaviors in everyday interactions, from office conversations to email threads and weekly meetings.

Most importantly, we must not be afraid to take risks and fail when working on being more inclusive! Let's celebrate International Women's Day by championing change, fostering understanding, and actively working towards a more inclusive future!