The Power of Lifting As We Rise
Written by Daniella Kahane, WIN Executive Director + CEO
Climbing the proverbial ladder in the workplace has never been easy for women, especially minorities and women of color. For many years, women weren’t even afforded the opportunity. In an effort to empower ourselves, we fought to create systems and workplace environments that would deconstruct outdated notions and benefit the next generation.
Now more than ever before women are at the precipice of change.
For many, these last two years have felt like a treacherous mountain climb, sans security rope, attempting to hold on to a cliff, while carrying the added weight of children or elderly upon their shoulders. And unfortunately, millions of women have been pushed off the cliff, or out of the workforce, by the overwhelming pressures of having to tend for sick family members, or homeschooling children among other challenges. As of February 2021, nearly three million women had been forced out of the workplace and mothers were three times more likely than fathers to have lost jobs during the pandemic.
And yet looking forward, there is reason to feel hopeful.
The world is crying out for change. We are demanding that companies create healthier, more balanced work environments, that our country acknowledge the value that a mother brings, not just to her own family, but to our society as a whole, and we are advocating for more diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
In February of this year, Congresswoman Meng introduced The Marshall Plan for Moms and many are calling for universal Paid Leave.
Over the years, and especially in the last two years we have learned, we rise by lifting others.
Women are leading the change for other women and setting a new standard of leadership. Leadership is about inspiring people to believe in the possibilities, to believe in themselves, and to guide them to become the very best versions of themselves. By taking initiative for ourselves to “lean in” or stretch to our aspirations of greatness, we empower those around us. We have the power to rewrite the script for ourselves and for other women to create a healthier society for all. Not only do women-led companies tend to create and prioritize more inclusive and diverse work environments, but they also tend to perform better than male-led companies.
The year 2022 is brimming with possibility. This is why our 2022 WIN Summit will focus on not only how we as individuals can overcome challenges but also finding new ways we can rise while lifting others. It is only through banding together, and supporting each other will we emerge stronger from this crisis.
That is our power as a people. Through community that builds, through leadership that elevates, and through honoring diversity in perspective and experience, we can rise together.
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