Still???

Women at the Top

Still talking about gender barriers? Still talking about racial inequities in corporate? Still analyzing gaps in CEO-succession and the C-suite pipeline? Still trying to figure out the difference between mentorship and sponsorship? YES...STILL!

Although the month of March has ended, in which we celebrated Women's History Month, this conversation is far, far from over! Like any issue in the world that is problematic and drives both economic and societal erosion, but has not yet been solved, what do we do? We keep working on it, deploy resources against it--both financial and our best minds--until we figure it out. Unfortunately, with "parity" (dare I say the former catchphrase or its loathsome acronym???) under siege in Corporate America and companies and its leaders shying away from workforce priorities that were established and heralded in town halls and on company websites just a few short years ago, not only are we now not progressing, but all indications suggest that we are actually retreating.

According to a study highlighted in a Washington Post article a few days ago, "Women’s share of coveted executive roles dropped in 2023 for the first time in nearly two decades, according to a recently published report from researchers who see it as possibly an “alarming turning point” in the path toward gender parity in corporate America."

Thank you Liz Fedor and Twin Cities Business for being a consistent and fearless advocate for #WomenLeadership! In this feature, Liz?searched for answers to these questions by posing them to experts around the nation.

To substantially increase the number of women who are public company CEOs, several hurdles must be cleared. Women need to possess the right business experience, demonstrate a strong aptitude for adapting to change, enjoy the support of well-connected mentors and sponsors, and work for corporations with boards that value gender diversity.

The article also teaches a Master Class on sponsorship as it was provided by Sharon McCollum and Hubert Joly to Corie Barry on her ascent to become CEO of 百思买 . Truly gold standard!!!

This shining example of what could be gives us hope. But it's long been said, "Hope without a plan, is merely daydreaming!" So, until we're at parity, I guess we'll be still talking, still task-forcing, still solving, still climbing, still committing, still challenging, still asking, still educating and still trying until we take our last breath or until the problem is solved, once and for all. Cindy Lauper had it partly right, not only do Girls Just Want to have Fun, we want to work at our highest potential and get paid equitably for doing so!

#WomenLeaders #GenderParity #Equity #BlackWomenLeaders #Leadership #Womeninbusiness #CSuite #CEO