IWD 2024: #InspireInclusion

I wanted to share with you my thoughts recognizing today as International Women's Day 2024 (“IWD 2024”). The theme chosen for IWD 2024 is #InspireInclusion: opening our minds, hearts, and discussions on inclusion. You may recall that the themes from the each of the last five years were #EmbraceEquity, #BreaktheBias, #ChoosetoChallenge, #EachforEqual, and# BalanceforBetter. From my perspective, this year’s theme reminds us to be intentionally attentive, understanding and recognizing women’s perspectives and contributions.

International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 each year in celebration of the many social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The charter drafted to support the founding of the United Nations in 1945 included a provision recognizing the need for equality between men and women. Thirty years later the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that 1975 should be International Women’s Year. At the end of that year, the UN General Assembly adopted another resolution that 1976-1985 should be the “Decade of Women.” I was born in that decade.

Almost forty years have passed since the end of the Decade of Women, and despite some progress, real change has been agonizingly slow for many women and girls in the world. Today, true gender parity does not yet exist as multiple obstacles remain in business, law, and culture. Women and girls continue to be undervalued: they work longer days and earn less. Despite being better educated, they have fewer career choices and may experience humiliation, harassment, and violence at home, in the office and in public spaces.

According to the latest “Women in the Workplace” report from McKinsey in partnership with LeanIn.Org , the presence of women executives in the C-Suite has increased from 17 to 28 percent since 2015, and the representation of women at the vice president and senior vice president levels has also improved significantly. These gains are very encouraging – yet mask a deeper concern that women at the manager and director levels have grown only 3 and 4 percentage points, respectively. This creates a limited pipeline of future leaders – the “broken rung” remains the greatest challenge women face to attaining senior leadership positions.

A few years ago, I joined the technology industry after a lengthy career in the global manufacturing sector. Although women currently hold approximately 26% of tech-related jobs, this percentage has regrettably decreased over the last the two years. Despite equal access, the percentage of women pursuing STEM subjects in higher education is on the decline, and women achieve only 18% of new computer science degrees.

What explains this disappointing decline? McKinsey’s 2023 report provides some of the myths commonly offered for these disappointing results and then the real explanation:

Myth: Women are becoming less ambitious

Reality: Women are more ambitious than before the pandemic – and flexibility in the workplace is fueling that ambition

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Myth: The biggest barriers to women’s advancement is the glass ceiling

Reality: The broken rung that reflects the limited number of candidates for advancement is the greatest obstacle that women face on the path to senior leadership

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Myth: Microaggressions have played a minor impact on opportunities for women

Reality: Microaggressions have had a large and lasting impact on women

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Myth: It’s mostly women who want – and benefit from – flexible work schedules

Reality: Men and women see flexibility as a top employee benefit and has proven to be critical to their company’s success

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I truly believe that what is needed today is a “back to basics” approach. We will not achieve gender parity and improve the advancement rate for women in the workplace and society without first achieving greater inclusion. Companies and societies need to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions that have been made by women.

I am very grateful for the lasting relationships that I have made with other like-minded women and well-intentioned men. These relationships energize me like nothing else.? I have also benefited greatly from the networks and professional organizations where my voice has been heard and respected. And in turn, I know that I will continue to pay it forward for others. Ambition, kindness and generosity – at the heart of inclusion – is what will ensure that there will be further progress in advancing gender inclusion, and in turn, parity.? Thanks for doing your part too.