“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”

– Ruth Bader Ginsburg

To honour International Women’s Day, Colour wanted to shed a spotlight on our amazing team of women. Our team would not be as strong as it is without the expertise, diligence, and hard work of these individuals, so today, and every day, we applaud them. 

Gender inequality is an issue that is still prevalent in business. We want to recognize that being a woman working in male-dominated sectors can be challenging and does not come without obstacles. Unfortunately, women are consistently overlooked, underpaid, and dismissed. Women often work more hours for less appreciation and respect. They are consistently passed on up on opportunities given to men who might be less qualified.

“Compared to men at their level, women leaders do more to support employee well-being and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion—work that dramatically improves retention and employee satisfaction, but is not formally rewarded in most companies.”

Women in the Workplace, 2022

In previous workplaces, some of our own staff members have seen or experienced sexism in the workplace, something Colour has a zero-tolerance policy for.

“When we’re younger, men tend to have more confidence, and women tend to feel ‘imposter syndrome’ a bit more. Learning to find that confidence is incredibly important when striving for promotions, new jobs or other work opportunities,” one Colour staff member states. 

A report by LeanIn studied over 400,000 employees in America to better understand the systemic issues women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people of colour face daily in the workplace. The report dives into numerous issues like the state of the pipeline, why women are switching jobs and the importance of flexible and remote work. 

“For every 100 men who are promoted from entry level to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and only 82 women of colour are promoted.”

Women in the Workplace, 2022.

Women are leaving their jobs at unprecedented rates — a phenomenon dubbed “The Great Breakup”. This exodus can be attributed to the lack of expectations being met on topics like diversity, inclusion, flexibility, equity, and employee well-being. The issue is not that women do not want to work, but rather they do not want to work in a corporate culture not committed to progressing these values of equality, one where aspirations to climb the corporate ladder are halted by microaggressions from male staff members.

International Women’s Day is a day to empower women, so we asked our female staff for their recommendations for young women entering the workforce.

“Finding confidence, overcoming feelings of imposter syndrome, matching energy (if men are treating you a certain way or behave a certain way, you can match their energy so you’re not overworking yourself or feeling like there’s an invisible competition). Always ask for what you need: negotiating salaries, and speaking up for yourself or colleagues in a professional way. Carving your own path, and not trying to match someone else’s career path to a T.”

“Smash the glass ceiling, and keep soaring. You are confident, capable, and qualified. Don’t let anyone make you feel differently.”

To learn more about International Women’s Day and for information about women in the workplace, visit: www.internationalwomensday.com