When Women Unleash Their Superpower They Are Unstoppable
Photo: Library of Congress via Unsplash. Suffrage activist Flora Dodge "Fola" La Follette (1882-1970), social reformer Rose Livingston & a young striker during a garment strike in NYC (1913).

When Women Unleash Their Superpower They Are Unstoppable

A few years ago I watched a video of former Pepsico chief Indra Nooyi in conversation with Anne-Marie Slaughter that I haven’t been able to get out of my head1. Nooyi, long known for her wit and calling a spade a spade remarks nonchalantly in the clip - “I don’t believe women help enough women in the workplace… what’s wrong with us women? We ought to be helping each other out.”

Nooyi’s seemingly casual remark is met with surprise by the interviewer and humor by the audience. By calling out women for their insecurity in the workplace, Nooyi is being astute, brave and empathetic at the same time. Believe it or not, this phenomenon actually has an official name. It is called the “Queen Bee” syndrome2 where “some senior-level women distance themselves from junior women, perhaps to be more accepted by their male peers”. The assumption is that the race to get to the top is already crowded with many male contenders, so very few women can get a spot in the race, forget win it. Therefore this behavior “is a?response?to inequality at the top, not the cause”.?

When I sit back and think of my career spanning two continents and two decades, I can think of several instances where I’ve encountered the Queen Bee at the workplace. However, those Queen Bees have been far outnumbered by women colleagues, peers, managers and mentors who have been kind, supportive, generous with both their time and talent, have allowed me to lean in at the worst of times and the best of times, and led by example.?

Recognize Your Superpower

In honor of these women and to honor #WomensHistoryMonth, I asked more than 60 women in my LinkedIn network one question – “What is Your Superpower?” The five most popular responses turned out to be the following:?

#1. Empathy: No surprises here. Empathy is a foundational skill, not only for leaders or marketers, but for life, as COVID taught us.

#2. Kindness: One of the most under-rated superpowers out there; let’s admit it -- the world needs more and more of it.

#3. Connecting/Community: Our isolation has made us value our connections and people more than ever. (See a complete list of communities and resources for women in the comments section.)

#4. Persistence/Resilience:?We’ve all been through the worst, witnessed enough wear and tear, broken down on Zoom calls, embraced our natural beauty (read gray roots), and come out stronger for it.

#5. Listening: A virtual world has made us rediscover the precious art of listening.?

(Scroll down to the bottom for full list of Participants + Superpowers)

Women's History Month Superpowers Arshiya Kapadia

These answers gleaned from 69 women should not surprise you, but should serve as a collective reminder that when women unleash their inner superpower, they are practically unstoppable. The next step is to challenge ourselves. Chances are you already possess one of these qualities. How about picking one more from this list to double down on your superpowers? If you want to go even further, pick two more, or even three more!

Why??

We are at a seminal point in history. A global pandemic. A global recession. With years of gender equity at stake, it will take all of our collective superpowers to change the future of work to make it better for women. Pre-pandemic?employment?levels for the most vulnerable, especially women, won't return to normal until after 2024.?Women face one million more job losses than men and one in four women are considering downshifting their careers or quitting due to the pandemic3. Women must empower themselves like never before to challenge these structural shifts within organizations in a post-COVID world. It will take all of our collective might to retain our sanity, continue doing what we do, bring women back into the workforce and descale the pandemic gap year. That’s why we need all of our combined superpowers and we must all do more. Yes, the work never ends.?

When Superpowers Combine?

Like the all-female hero scene in Avengers: Endgame, we are stronger together. When women support more women at work, when women managers mentor more women inside or outside their organizations, it will have a direct impact on:

  1. Gender equity at work.
  2. Shrink the gender pay gap.
  3. Debunk gender stereotypes.
  4. Enable more women to shatter glass ceilings in what are considered typically male-dominated fields (Aviation, AI and Defense to name a few).
  5. Allow women of color to make progress and get better opportunities.?

Would the Suffragette movement have been possible without women joining forces with each other? Or would the global outcry for #MeToo in recent history have been possible without women rallying together??

However, you don’t always have to start an international movement to support your brethren. I asked Jennifer DaSilva, President, Berlin Cameron, how can women support more women at work? “It's unbelievable to me that there are still women who DON’T support each other at work,” says Jennifer. “I do my best to have everyone's back at my company, whether that means just being empathetic if they need some time for family, telling them to take their seat at the table and own it, or fighting to get them the money and resources they need. I am also open about my imperfections and failures, so that they feel they can be open as well. There is no way to model perfection and it’s an impossible standard to hold anyone to. Outside of my company, I also respond to most LinkedIn outreach that comes to me for a quick chat with a woman who needs advice or a connection.” So it’s really as simple as that. Respond. Bolster. Encourage.?

Jennifer of course knows a thing or two about supporting women. Last year in the middle of the pandemic when most of us were busy binging on chips, Jennifer started Connect4Women - a networking group for women to amplify women’s voices and mentor them. This quarter the program is focused on helping women who have been affected by the SHEcession. (link in comments)

So how can women turn their superpowers into their strengths? Jennifer ascertains that if they are indeed your superpowers, they are already your strengths. Learn to magnify them. “Women need to be able to tell the story of their superpowers in a compelling and dynamic way and need to broadcast it wherever they can. Women shouldn’t feel afraid or ashamed to brag,” says Jennifer. Remember that when you are in a flux.

Lastly, I leave you with one thought. Be more. More of everything. And use your superpowers to empower other women, in any way, big or small, that you can. When the history of COVID-19 is chronicled, this must be chronicled as one of our wins.

Besides, we could all use some heroes right about now.

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What Is Your Superpower?

I asked the women in my LinkedIn network to tell me their SUPERPOWER -- essentially, what makes them, them, and this is their response. I am in awe of each and every one of them. So much gratitude for my tribe. Thank you for being YOU.

  1. Abbey Cole, Public Relations Specialist (Ontario): Communication.
  2. Ajia Allen, Principle Owner, Digalyne Consulting LLC (DC area): Unapologetically showing up myself in all spaces and empowering other women to do the same. I intentionally protect Black women's voices - ensuring they are heard and heeded.
  3. Amy Huang 黃月媺 (she, her), Sr Manager, Onsite Tech Support, Marsh McLennan (DC area): Connector.
  4. ?Angela Johnson, Client Development Officer, dentsu international (NYC): Empathy.
  5. Amra Siddiqui, Operations Supervisor, Amazon (Dubai): Leadership.
  6. Anupama Varma Chand, Sr. AD, APCO Worldwide (Dubai): Resilience.
  7. Aradhna Forrest, Enterprise Early Career Rotation Program Creator, Boeing (Seattle): Inclusion and Connection!
  8. Ashley Stevens, Director, National Marketing, Modern Luxury Media LLC (NYC): Creating experiences that forge connection!
  9. Anita Anantharam, Executive Director, The New MBA Program (Florida): Empathy.
  10. Amanda Lacey, Sr. Strategic Account Manager, Indeed (Dublin): Empathy
  11. Asma Alharbi, Medical Insurance Pricing Manager, IHC - Insurance House Company?(Saudi Arabia): Being a Woman.
  12. Barbie Winterbottom, CEO, the Business of HR (Tampa): Trusting my instinct.
  13. Beatrice A. Abiero, Research Scientist, Ipsos Public Affairs (DC): Being a Connector.
  14. Claudia Dameno, Senior Client Executive & Sales Professional, Marsh Italy (Milan): My Organizational Skills!
  15. Christina Struller, Regional VP of Public Affairs, UPS (UAE): Persistence!
  16. Daria D'Italia, Sr. Customer Success Manager, LinkedIn (NYC): My superpower is being able to listen beyond the words that are spoken to hear the subtext.
  17. Davia Temin, CEO of?Temin and Company?(NYC): My passion!
  18. Dr.Reem Faraj AlShammari, Cybersecurity leader in Oil and Gas (Kuwait): Passionate Giver.
  19. Elena Buriani, Co-Founder & CEO at LEA Growing People (Dubai): Connectedness + Relationship management.
  20. Elise Finn, Director and Co-Founder, Nkuzi Change (Ireland): Kind Candor!
  21. Erika Armstrong, VP Business Development, Aviation Professor, Pilot (Denver): Humor!
  22. Estel Carbo Vinaixa, Digital Marketing lead, Panasonic Avionics (San Francisco Bay Area): Awareness.
  23. Francesca Consoli, Sr. Total Rewards Specialist, Marsh CE + MEA (Milan): Empathy.
  24. Hafeezah Muhammad, Founding Member of Chief DC, Chief (DC area): Acceptance. Accepting everyone as they are and inspiring them to be the best version of themselves.
  25. Hiloni Hadani, Digital Marketer, Virgin Mobile UAE (Dubai): Empathy. I apply it to understand, nurture and build strong relationships. Empathy is not a weakness, but a strength.
  26. Heba Sayed, Strategy leader, IBM Middle East & Africa (UAE) - My Grit!
  27. Jasmine Nadar, Assistant Marketing Manager, Marsh (Mumbai): Determination.
  28. Jennee Rasavong, Marketing Comms. Manager, SC Johnson Canada (Ontario): Flexibility.
  29. Jennifer DaSilva, President, Berlin Cameron/Founder, Connect4Women (NYC): I'm an Innate Connector!
  30. Jumana Jalmiran, Industrial Engineer II – SLS, Boeing (Seattle area): Persistence!
  31. Katy Rodriguez Botello, Senior Global Manager, Social Impact, Marsh McLennan: Courage.
  32. Kung Pik Liu, Creative Head/Owner, Design Angel (LA): Empathy.
  33. Krystal Hauserman, VP, Global Brand Marketing?Fullscreen (LA): Puzzle-solving.
  34. Lan Phan, CEO community of SEVEN (NYC): Creating Communities of passionate individuals & empowering them to be change makers.
  35. Lauren DiZazzo, Marketing Manager, Harte Hanks (Boston): Conscientiousness.?
  36. Luciana Chiappa, Marketing Manager, CE, Marsh (Milan): Empathy.
  37. Magda Chelly, Head of Cyber Risk Consulting, Marsh Asia (Singapore): Adaptability.
  38. Mayoori Kango, Head of Industries, Google (India): Overcoming Adversity.
  39. Mita Mallick, Head of Inclusion, Equity & Impact, Carta (NYC): Storytelling.
  40. Mira Yacoub, Social Media Strategist (UAE): My superpower is my Strength.
  41. Miriam Hahn, Sr. Marketing & Comms. Specialist, Marsh McLennan (Frankfurt): Creativity.
  42. Monica Mirchandani, Pediatrician, Children’s Aid Society (NYC): – Patience! Monica is a pediatrician & on the front lines as an essential worker during the pandemic; she is using her superpower for the greater good everyday.
  43. Monika Murugesan, VP, Product Management, Koch Engineered Solutions (Pullman): Intuition.
  44. Naheed Maalik, Partner Consultant, The Loop (Dubai): Resourcefulness!
  45. Nargis Taj, Sr Program Manager, BNY Mellon (NYC): Faith.
  46. Puneet Sandhu, PR Director B2B Brands and DEI leader (London): Empathy.
  47. Risha Jagadish, Business Analyst, Adnet Advertising Agency (NYC):?Being a “Perpetual Optimist"!
  48. Rubina Fillion, Director of Audience, The New York Times (NYC): Diplomacy
  49. Ruthy Mu?oz, Contributor Airline Reporter, Skift (Houston):??My superpower is my ability to get back up again and again, learn from it and not give up. My secret superpower is also my laughter, it keeps me positive and allows me to see all the wonderful possibilities in life.??
  50. Sadia Fahimul, Media Associate, Starcom (LA): Making Connections.
  51. Safia Mammad, Head of Quality & Operational Excellence, Marsh France (Paris): Clear-sightedness.
  52. Samia Hasan, Founder Unwind The Grind (UAE): Helping people find their WHY to discover their purpose.
  53. Sharmila Martis, Founder, Gift of Time India Foundation (Bangalore): Amazing Connector.?
  54. Shreena Ghumra, Regional Controller, MEA, Marsh McLennan (Dubai): Compassion.
  55. Sonali Goel, Director, Talent and Development, Macmillan (NYC): Courage.
  56. Sonal Bahl, Founder, Career Strategist, SuperCharge (Brussels): KAP = Kindness. Authenticity. Practical: easy to follow career advice.
  57. Sophia Bhatti, Director, W1 Investment Group (Dubai): Unstoppable Willpower!
  58. Serena Low 刘善明, Social & Emotional Intelligence Coach (Melbourne): Introversion. (Serena creates communities and resources for introverted individuals)
  59. Stephanie Ilderton, Internal Comms. Manager, US & Canada, Mercer (Orlando): Honesty.
  60. Susan Dwyer, Founder, Rise Up (Ireland): Empathy.
  61. Susan McPherson, Author, The Lost Art of Connecting (NYC): Building meaningful connections.
  62. Susan Stoga, Co-Founder, Carson Stoga Communications (Chicago): Connector. I love to connect women to others to help them fulfill their goals.
  63. Swati Ketkar, Assistant Editor, MRO Business Today (Mumbai): Perfection.
  64. S. Mitra Kalita, CEO/Co-founder, URL Media Holdings Inc (NYC):?Community.
  65. Tara Anne Benson, Associate Director, Public Affairs, Marsh McLennan (Washington DC area): Kindness.
  66. Tieisha Smith, VP Regional Technology Manager, Marsh McLennan (LA): Resilience.?
  67. Weld Royal, Head of US Content, DailyFx (NJ): Being a good listener.
  68. Vania Silva, Head of Marketing and Comms., Marsh Portugal (Lisbon): Empathy.
  69. Vinita Malik, Operations & Content Manager, Lokafy (Mumbai) – Self Belief.?

(If you're wondering about my Superpower - it's Perseverance - I NEVER Give Up!)

Serena Low 刘善明

Trauma-informed Introvert Coach & Midlife Mentor | I help quiet achievers grow into Quiet Warriors who can speak, lead, and rise to the occasion - without having to act extroverted.

3 年

Arshiya, I love the way you've drawn us all together in support of the message that women need to support women at work and to present a unified front. Sisterhood is a powerful and beautiful thing. Thank you for including me in your community!

ASMA ALHARBI , M.Ed

Vice President.EH&B Placement Executive at Marsh McLennan

3 年

AMAZING.. It is great to be part of this thank a lot Arshiya Kapadia

Arslan Ashraf

Global Marketing Access @ Merck KGaA | Marketing & Communications Expert | Brand Strategist | Digital Media | SEO | Content Marketing | Product Marketing | Masters in Expanded Media @ Hochschule Darmstadt.

3 年

Excellent article

Weld Royal

Strategic Marketing Content & Communications | Digital Leader | Board Member

3 年

Love this, Arshi!

Susan Dwyer

Head of Community Building @ Elkstone | Founder @ Rise Up | Podcast Host | DE&I Champion

3 年

Love this! Great article Arshiya Kapadia and thank you for including me.

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