Research

7 Things You Can Do for Women at Work, Including Yourself, This International Women’s Day

Mar 05, 2024

When women thrive, economies thrive. In fact, estimates suggest that closing the gender gap could add $7 Trillion USD to the global economy.1

But first, workplaces need to work for women.

This International Women’s Day, we invited four remarkable women to share how they are blazing a path towards a more equitable future of work. We learned how they empower other women, champion inclusion, implement ethical business practices, and redefine leadership.

Here are seven key actions you can take to invest in women and accelerate progress from our Supporter-exclusive webinar, Driving the Catalyst Effect: Women Leaders Cultivating Workplace Equity:

  1. Model intentional leadership. Everyone—whether you manage employees or not —can champion diversity and inclusion efforts. The model you set creates a ripple effect across your network.
  2. Let your career be squiggly. Most career paths aren’t linear, and there are enormous benefits to exploring something new. The future of work demands that we constantly upgrade our technical skills and invest in a strong base of soft leadership skills. Getting out of your comfort zone will help you develop these skills. Not only will you learn something new; this exploration can also offer you a chance to practice humility, be open to learning, and ask questions that will take you in new directions.
  3. Build your coaching team. Consider both sponsors and mentors. They are equally important and have different roles. Mentors talk with you; sponsors talk about you. Build relationships with sponsors who don’t necessarily look like you to speak your name intentionally in rooms you aren’t in.
  4. Apply a gender lens. Start intentionally looking at every part of your company— including policies, procedures, and analyses—through a gender lens. Ask yourself: “How do these policies impact different groups and the organization overall?” This gendered focus will enable you to view your workforce with a wide-ranging perspective.
  5. Offer honest, kind, and direct feedback. Women are often not provided with honest feedback, which can be detrimental to their careers. Lifting and supporting others requires honesty and course-correction.
  6. Always choose yourself. Even when it leads to discomfort and risk-taking, choose yourself.
  7. Reframe failure as an opportunity. Perfection doesn’t offer an opportunity to learn. Moreover, perfection is always an unreasonable standard. No leader has gotten to their place without errors along the way. Instead, welcome your missteps and “failures” as an opportunity to learn and develop.

This International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, join us in celebrating women and other leaders who are transforming the workplace.

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