Professional women who seek to advance their careers face challenges in a workplace that struggles to support and promote them. Gender bias, still prevalent across all industries, results in an unlevel playing field that is difficult for women to navigate successfully. This bias contributes to a more difficult climb to leadership positions for women with the ambition to do so.
Currently, women now run 10.4% of the top companies in the United States. According to the recent Women in the Workplace Report from McKinsey and Company and Leanin.org, “Women are more ambitious than ever, and workplace flexibility is fueling them. Yet despite some hard-fought gains, women’s representation is not keeping pace.”
With only a small percentage of female leaders, women entering the workforce have limited ability to envision what it takes to be a strong female leader. Female leaders can not only serve as role models, but mentors and advisors. Yet, many women lack role models to inspire and help them see what it takes to reach leadership positions.
A 2022 nationwide study from the UK revealed 43% of women believe they would be more successful if they had a role model in the workplace, “with 57% believing that having a relatable role model is crucial to achieving career success and 70% agreeing it’s easier to be like someone you can see.”
Female role models need not be limited to your company. In a Harvard Business Review article on the topic, the authors suggest also looking outside your workplace. “External role models can help you imagine new possibilities for your career, inspire you to experiment, and even provide insights into what works for them and why.”
Mila Smart Semeshkina, founder of the Women’s Empowerment Council ,(WEC), recognizes the importance of female role models for women seeking to advance their career. Drawing from her own career challenges as a businesswoman, Semeshkina recently told me that she faced “prejudice and a lack of serious consideration in her professional relationships. I had to work hard to prove my worth at the table alongside men, all while maintaining my identity as a woman without compromising my business qualities.”
After years of coaching professional women and realizing that in order to succeed women need to see more examples from other women and have role models to follow, Semeshkina founded WEC in 2021 with the aim to empower women globally by showcasing accomplished women. “I began to see a recurring theme – women’s progress seemed hindered by the glaring absence of sufficient role models whose journeys they could follow, draw inspiration from, and most importantly, relate to on a personal level.”
The Women’s Empowerment Council is a supportive community where women can thrive and succeed. Originating and based in Dubai, it’s a dynamic platform that empowers women from all walks of life. By showcasing inspiring stories and providing valuable resources, the organization offers an inclusive space where women can connect, learn, and support one another. Through their initiatives, women are encouraged to unleash their true potential and overcome barriers in their personal and professional lives.
Resources offered by WEC include online courses from Lectera, an international educational platform that addresses the need for up-to-date knowledge in an ever-changing world. As founder and CEO, Semeshkina developed Lectera from an understanding that there is a need to deliver ‘fast education’ in a condensed form. The courses which cover sales, marketing, negotiation, leadership and more require no more than fifteen minutes a day to complete.
Networking and bringing a community of like-minded women together is achieved through the WE Convention which provides a platform for women to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and inspire each other. Semeshkina’s vision for these events is ‘for every woman attending to return home empowered, inspired, and encouraged, ready to pursue their dreams and make a difference in the world. The key task of the convention is to give a stage to strong women role models so that they can show others that women’s success is achievable, tell how it is achievable, and prove that a woman can achieve anything.”
Dr. Giovanna Graziosi Casimiro, XR&Web3 Producer and Head of Metaverse Fashion Week, who presented at the March 2023 WE Convention, recently shared with me, “The concept behind this event struck a chord with me – simple, yet highly effective. Instead of merely proclaiming that women can achieve their desires, the WE Convention aimed to showcase tangible paths and possibilities that might have otherwise remained hidden. It emphasized the importance of education and resonated with my own personal journey.”
According to Semeshkina, “While education does provide the knowledge necessary to succeed in various fields and endeavors, inspiration provides the motivation and drive to put that education into action. Both education and inspiration play a role in enabling women to achieve their goals and realize their potential.….. inspiration can be particularly important for women’s empowerment because it can help to overcome barriers and challenges that may be faced in pursuing education and success.”
As women face barriers to their success in the workplace, having female role models who inspire and provide the opportunity to learn and grow professionally and personally through interaction, educational resources, and being a part of a supportive community that is invested in their potential, helps women to overcome these challenges with confidence and optimism.
Bonnie Marcus, M.ED, is the author of Not Done Yet! How Women Over 50 Regain Their Confidence and Claim Workplace Power and The Politics of Promotion: How High Achieving Women Get Ahead and Stay Ahead. An executive coach and speaker, Bonnie is also host of the podcast, Badass Women At Any Age.
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