It’s easier to be what you can see - why we need more visible female role models to inspire future generations

I was fortunate enough to grow up around hard working and successful women. My Mum was a senior business leader, and in my first serious job I worked for a company that was owned and run by a woman. Both set the precedent to me in my formative years that I too could go out into the world of work and pave my own path. It sounds cliché to say, but without these women I wouldn’t be where I am today. This story is true of so many women, yet new research shows we are still lacking visible female role models.?

In a week’s time, we’re set to witness a significant moment in sporting history as the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 kicks off at Old Trafford to a sold-out crowd of over 70,000 spectators.

LinkedIn is a proud national sponsor of the tournament, which is set to be the largest women’s European sporting event in history. It’s a wonderful moment to celebrate and spotlight trailblazing women, both on and off the pitch.

I’ve previously spoken about the need for greater flexibility to keep talented women in the workforce, as part of our global partnership with International Women’s Day. LinkedIn wants to support the UEFA Women's EURO 2022 this summer to highlight the importance of visible role models, and spark conversations on the platform to help drive a more equitable world of work.??

From the conversations we increasingly see on LinkedIn, visible role models play a vital role in shaping people’s careers, regardless of what stage they’re at. Seeing others in roles people wish to emulate, encourages them to believe in their own abilities and helps them set goals for themselves, regardless of gender, race, age or sexuality.?

After all, it’s easier to be what you can see.?

New UK research from LinkedIn has revealed that 43% of professional women believe they would be more successful if they had a role model in the workplace and over half of professionals (55%) agree there is a lack of relatable role models in the workplace. And our data reinforces this.

There remains a disproportionate lack of visible female role models at the highest level - just one in four C-suite roles in the UK are held by women, despite them occupying nearly half of entry level positions. Our data also shows that men are 21% more likely to be promoted to a leadership position than women.?

Some progress has been made. Hiring of women into roles at director level or above has seen incremental improvements over time, with women now making up 37% of leadership hires, compared to 31% in 2015.

Looking to the past for inspiration

To showcase some of the trailblazers from the world of women’s football, LinkedIn has teamed up with Carol Thomas BEM, England’s first captain to lead the team to the Women's EURO in 1984.

What’s interesting to hear is just how different things were almost forty years ago. The first ever final was played to a crowd of no more than 2,000, lasted just 70 minutes and received no media coverage in England – a stark contrast to this year’s tournament where female players adorn billboards up and down the country.

Next week, I will have the pleasure of joining Carol as she retraces her historic steps and walks from The Mornflake Stadium in Crewe, venue for the first Women’s EURO game in 1984, to Old Trafford, where this year’s tournament kicks off. Carol and I will also be joined by other female role models along the way, including professional Crystal Palace player, ambassador and qualified City Lawyer, Chloe Morgan; Director of Women’s Football, Iqra Ismail; former England footballer Rachel Yankey and retired Swedish footballer, and Carol’s former opposing captain, Anette Borjesson.??

Here’s a preview of what will be taking place on July 4th and 5th, where we’ll follow in the footsteps of Carol, and her special guests, on a journey to highlight the importance of female role models.??

These women are all inspirational role models and are paving the way for more young girls to follow their dreams - be that playing for their country at a future UEFA Women’s EURO, developing a vaccine that saves millions of lives, or being CEO of a global business.??

I encourage you to follow all of these women and share stories of your own role models with our community using the hashtag #FollowInHerFootsteps