Powering Women at Work: Developing Their Potential

The value of women in the workplace has been underestimated and underappreciated for far too long. Women make up half of the population and bring unique skills and perspectives to the table. Yet, they are often undervalued and overlooked, especially when it comes to leadership positions. In this blog post, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to develop and value power women at the workplace. This guide will cover everything from creating a culture of inclusivity to providing equal access to opportunities, compensation, and benefits.

“And do not wish for that by which Allah (GOD) has made some of you exceed others. For men is a share of what they have earned, and for women is a share of what they have earned. And ask Allah of his bounty. Indeed Allah (GOD) is ever, of all things, Knowing.” (The Holy Quran 4:32)

The Step-by-Step Guide:

1.??????Create a Culture of Inclusivity:

The first step in developing and valuing power women at the workplace is to create a culture of inclusivity. This means creating an environment where women feel welcome and valued. One way to do this is to ensure that the workplace is free from gender bias and discrimination. As Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, once said, "We need to stop telling our daughters to be careful about the risks they take and start telling our sons to be more careful about the risks they don't take." This means challenging gender stereotypes and ensuring that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed.

2.??????Provide Equal Access to Opportunities:

The second step is to provide equal access to opportunities. This means ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men to apply for jobs, receive promotions, and participate in leadership development programs. One way to do this is to implement blind hiring practices. This means removing any identifying information from job applications, such as name and gender, to eliminate bias. As Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code, once said, "If we're going to close the gender gap in technology, we have to make sure that women have equal access to opportunities."

3.??????Offer Equal Compensation and Benefits:

The third step is to offer equal compensation and benefits. This means ensuring that women are paid the same as men for doing the same job and receive the same benefits. As Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, once said, "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception." This means valuing women's contributions and recognizing that they deserve to be compensated fairly.

4.??????Recognize and Celebrate Women's Achievements:

The fourth step is to recognize and celebrate women's achievements. This means creating opportunities to showcase women's contributions and providing positive feedback and recognition for their hard work. As Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, once said, "Just because you are CEO, don't think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization. I've never forgotten that." This means recognizing that women bring unique skills and perspectives to the workplace and that their achievements should be celebrated.

5.??????Provide Mentoring and Leadership Development Opportunities:

The fifth step is to provide mentoring and leadership development opportunities. This means providing opportunities for women to develop their skills and advance their careers. As Fatima al-Fihri, founder of the world's oldest degree-granting university, once said, "Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave." This means investing in women's development and providing opportunities for them to learn, grow, and lead.

My journey: Developing Power Women in Various Industries

As a mentor in various entrepreneurship programs, I have had the opportunity to work closely with women-led startups and witnessed their successes and challenges firsthand. One of the biggest challenges I have noticed is the lack of support and resources available to these women in comparison to their male counterparts. This is why it is so important for organizations to value and develop power women in the workplace. I will share some of these stories without naming any persons to respect their privacy.

? Empowering Women: a woman with determination

A group of determined women came together to establish a startup that aimed to provide affordable healthcare to underprivileged communities. Despite facing challenges in securing funding and once I was able to support them into building a strong network, they successfully launched their startup and brought accessible and affordable healthcare to hundreds of individuals who otherwise would not have had access to it. Their perseverance to overcome legal obstacles and cultural barriers was inspiring to the whole community. The team's journey teaches us to never underestimate the determination of women and the power of collective female leadership.

? Women Driving Change: Inspiring Transformation

The story of a group of friends is an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a positive impact on the world. They enrolled in my ediploma online course and founded a company that turns recycled glass into eco-friendly stones. With their team, they started their own glass recycling workshop and established 10 glass-sorting centers in their hometown, driving equal participation in recycling efforts and increasing awareness of women's roles in non-traditional industries. Their journey shows us that with hard work, determination, and a passion for the environment, we can make a real difference in the world. Their impact on their community and the environment is a testament to the power of women entrepreneurs and the importance of investing in sustainable business practices.

? Women Overcoming Obstacles: Achieving Success against all odds

A trailblazing woman in finance and technology had a bold vision to bring financial services to underserved communities through a micro-finance model matched with collective investment schemes. However, she faced challenges such as the lack of trust from predominantly male financial executives. Despite this, she was determined to create a trusted business model that addressed all concerns and highlighted the shared success that could be achieved through collective investment. As a result, their startup has made a significant impact in providing much-needed financial services to underserved communities. Her journey teaches us the importance of intuition and trusting our own expertise and vision, even in the face of skepticism and obstacles.

The value of developing and valuing power women:

These experiences have shown me the value of developing and valuing power women in various industries. They often bring unique perspectives and approaches that can lead to innovative solutions and greater success for all. By providing support and resources, organizations can create a more diverse and inclusive workplace that benefits everyone.

Lessons Learned for the future of Humanity:

In my opinion, the future job landscape will require a universal salary funded by taxation of AI industries, and wealth creation through entrepreneurship. As such, I am refining my management theories and creating new frameworks to tackle the critical challenges facing humanity in the age of AI-led automation and job market competition. To take on this challenge, I have assembled a team of female-only first-year university graduates to establish a digital services startup. My aim is to develop this team to compete with world-class agencies and foster their growth as leaders in their respective fields. I plan to standardize the lessons learned from this experience into new training and development models for future industries.

As I reflect on my new framework and its implementation, the question arises: why did I opt to test it on a team of women exclusively? From my past experiences, I have observed the immense value that powerful women bring to the workforce. They possess a distinct perspective and problem-solving approach that often leads to novel solutions. However, organizations must provide the necessary support and resources to help these women overcome any obstacles they may encounter. By prioritizing and honing the potential of these powerful women, companies can establish a more diverse and inclusive work environment, ultimately leading to greater success for all involved.

In conclusion, valuing power women at the workplace is not just a matter of equality; it's also a matter of good business sense. Developing and valuing power women at the workplace is crucial for creating a fair and equitable professional landscape. By taking steps such as providing equal opportunities, offering flexible work arrangements, promoting work-life balance, recognizing and rewarding achievements, providing mentorship and coaching programs, and promoting a culture of diversity and inclusion, organizations can create an environment where women can thrive and succeed.

Share your story in the comments about a woman in your workplace who inspired you to learn, grow, and achieve better. Remember the famous proverb: behind every good man is a good woman. Inspirational stories will be featured in our next article.

Let us all work together to support and empower power women at the workplace, and in doing so, create a better future for all of us.?