The Importance of Supporting Women in the Workplace Discussed at Fireside Chat
Once again, Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) teamed up with Humans Doing to host another event dedicated to celebrating the remarkable achievements and inspiring stories of women in the corporate world at The Clubhouse.
Aimed at creating an inclusive platform where individuals from various professional backgrounds can come together to discuss the importance of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace, the Powering Up: Empowering Women in Corporate Success 2 event brought together an assorted panel of men and women to share their personal experiences of nurturing the careers of women on their teams and supporting them through the trials they encountered along the way.
The esteemed panelists possessed a wealth of expertise, insights, and a deep commitment to championing gender parity. With their diverse perspectives and firsthand experiences, they helped shed light on the strategies, challenges, and victories they have encountered while empowering women in their teams. From breaking barriers and overcoming stereotypes to providing mentorship and cultivating a supportive workplace culture, these inspiring individuals have made a significant impact on the careers and lives of countless women:
Jean Harvey Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Global Client Organization at Fiserv (Moderator)
Wanda Cherry, Director, Technology at Cox Communications (Panelist)
Donald Knight, Chief People Officer at Greenhouse Software (Panelist)
John Beisner, GM and Head of Enterprise Sales, Splitit (Panelist)
Throughout the discussions and presentations, the panelists emphasized the importance of mentorship, inclusivity, and encouraging women that are taking more prominent roles in the workplace. As Donald Knight put it, “Engaging people is not enough, you have to empower them.”
Topics also included the use of structured interviewing to mitigate bias and drive social impact through hiring, along with recognition that women in the workplace often struggle with burnout more severely and more frequently than men. Providing opportunities for advancement in the workplace is also crucial. As Wanda Cherry shared, “The absence of greater intention around women stalls them.”
Not only were attendees able to ask for advice and share their own personal experiences, but they also divulged their thoughts on what would make them feel more empowered in the workplace:
Comfortability with sharing
Equality with rules applying to everyone
Having access to leaders and being heard
Having leaders that think and act as mentors
Honest feedback and investment
Honesty and fairness
Mentorship to provide sense of belonging
More collaborative environments
More control over one’s own time
More diversity in leadership
Open and realistic communication on growth
Opportunity to take reins and run with it
Promoting/working toward internal growth
Regular performance evaluations
Representation
Seeing recommendations become reality
Sensitivity training
True team building and support
By highlighting the voices and journeys of successful women, as well as the invaluable contributions of their male counterparts, striving to foster an environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential should always be high priority.
The "Powering Up" series serves as a catalyst for change and the second event successfully inspired both men and women to actively participate in creating a corporate landscape that offers equal opportunities and nurtures the growth and success of talented women.
As the personal stories and lessons learned continued to be vocalized throughout the evening, it was clear that the invaluable insights and advice shared would help attendees navigate their own professional journeys and overcome the obstacles that arise along the way.
How does your company help support women in the workplace? Let us know in the comments below.