Fearlessly Female

As I am sure most of you have seen or heard, March is Womens’ History Month, and yesterday was International Womens’ Day. Since 1911, March 8th has been a day of global recognition for the many social, economic, and political achievements of women all around the world. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize all the incredible women in my life—From my wife and daughter who show me strength and support every single day, to my mom and sister who taught me the values of hard work, bravery, and caring, to the amazing female executives I’m so blessed to work with every day, who challenge and inspire me to think differently. Every single one of these remarkable women has had lasting impacts on my life for the better.  Ok, I also have to add my dog Cricket as well.  

I’m sure I’m not the first person to have heard it said that “If a woman were running the show, things would be different” and I completely agree. Some people pretend to have a crystal ball and say how it would be different, but I’m not sure I agree with that because all those predictions are based on our own cognitive fixedness and generalizations.  I prefer to think of everyone as individuals and not type-cast them or their beliefs and capabilities – it’s probably why Merchants Fleet has gone from 0% women on the leadership team to 50% over the last 4 years. 

I am an engineer at heart and love data, so most times I like to look at the facts, and when I look at the facts about women in the world, I can only say one thing – we still have a lot of work to do.  

• Only 8% of Fortune 500 chief executives are women. (Statista, Fortune) 
• Women hold only 29% of senior management positions in the world. (Grant Thornton) 
• Only 22 countries have women as the Head of State or Government. (UN Women) 
• 52% of women in the world deal with non-inclusive behavior at work, based on gender discrimination. (Deloitte) 
• Only 4% of women say their organizations have made progress in building inclusive cultures that support women. (Deloitte) 

Merchants Fleet takes this very seriously, and our organization is proud to stand out in the traditionally male-dominated fleet industry, with female executives making up half of Merchants’ corporate leadership team and half of its total employee base.  

Here in the US, March is Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme is "Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope," which is particularly poignant considering the unrest facing the world right now. As we pause to recognize the sacrifices and accomplishments of women today and throughout history, I challenge you to think about the impacts women have had on your own life, your education, and your career—and the ways in which you can show your support and appreciation as an example for future generations.  

If you are looking for some Fearless Female inspiration, check out my #FearlessFriday social campaign where each week I highlight a Fearless Leader I have crossed paths with. This month will feature some incredible women.  

Enjoy the journey and CELEBRATE the Fearless Females in your life.