Key Takeaways from Women's Day & How SHANKX Supports Women

Dear Make Your Mark readers,

In honor of International Women's Day, I'm excited to share some of the key takeaways from a recent “International Women's Day | Overcoming Obstacles in the Workplace,” an event celebrating the achievements of women in the workplace. The event featured a panel of inspiring women from diverse backgrounds who shared their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success. It offered actionable tips and advice for other women looking to advance in their careers.

Key Takeaways of International Women's Day Event

One of the most important takeaways from the event is the importance of building supportive networks. Whether through paid mentorship (highly recommended) or simply connecting with other women in your field, having a circle of support can provide invaluable guidance, advice, and opportunities. A mentor can offer insights into the industry, help you navigate challenges, and provide feedback on your professional development. Networking with other women in your field can help you expand your circle of support, learn from their experiences, and create opportunities for collaboration. And it's important that we stop thinking we need to go at it alone and be a "strong woman" by ourselves. It's simply not possible to do that and stay healthy.

Another key takeaway is the importance of being authentic. When you embrace your authentic self and stay true to your values and beliefs, you can build trust and credibility with colleagues and inspire others to do the same. Being authentic means being honest about your strengths and weaknesses, expressing your thoughts and opinions in a respectful way, and not trying to be someone you're not. By being true to yourself, you can build a solid personal brand and cultivate a sense of trust and respect among your peers. But it’s not just about playing music that you enjoy in the workplace, dressing a certain way, or even ditching code-switching to “keep it real.” Authenticity is also about being truthful about your pain, your interests, and what you want to do with your life.

• Taking risks is also essential for career growth and advancement. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be scary, but it can also lead to new opportunities for growth and development. Taking calculated risks means evaluating a decision's potential risks and benefits and weighing them carefully. This may involve taking on a challenging project, speaking up in a meeting, or applying for a new job. Taking risks can expand your skills and experiences and increase your confidence and resilience.
• Advocating for yourself is also crucial for career success. This means speaking up. By advocating for yourself, you show that you value your own worth and are committed to your professional growth and success.
• Celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small, is also important for maintaining motivation and confidence. Marking your milestones can involve setting goals and tracking your progress, recognizing your achievements publicly, or celebrating with friends and colleagues. By doing so, you can build a sense of momentum and motivation, which can help you stay focused and motivated as you pursue your goals.
• Finally, self-care is essential for maintaining physical and mental health. While there are many ways to practice self-care, one simple and cost-free strategy is to set aside time to do nothing. Giving yourself permission to relax and recharge can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Other self-care strategies may include exercise, meditation, getting enough sleep, and engaging in hobbies or activities that bring you joy. By prioritizing self-care, you can improve your ability to handle stress and perform at your best in the workplace.

I hope these key takeaways inspire and empower you to take charge of your career and prioritize your well-being. Remember that building a successful career and maintaining your health and happiness are not mutually exclusive – in fact, they go hand in hand. By cultivating a supportive network, staying true to yourself, taking risks, advocating for yourself, marking your milestones, and practicing self-care--real self care, you can achieve success and fulfillment in all aspects of your life.

So what are we doing in our company that supports women? There are a number of initiatives that we believe support SHANKX. 

Ultimately, it can be summed up with our core values, which are the following:

1) Don't #@!% the customer

2) Don't #@!% the team.

Here’s a little of Shankar and I talking about how we do both and why we believe that is a part of helping women.

By Supporting Fathers, We Support Mothers

How do companies f their teams? Ignore parental needs. We are proud to support all parents, regardless of gender, in taking time off to care for their new child. We also support men as dads by encouraging and facilitating their ability to take time off to support their wives. This helps to alleviate mental health stressors and supports women in the workplace. Caring for dads is one of the best ways to support moms. We have had several male employees take advantage of our paid parental leave policy to bond with their new children and support their families during this exciting and important time.

One of our employees took a few weeks of paid parental leave after his wife gave birth to their child. During this time, he was able to care for his newborn and support his wife during the early weeks of parenthood. We hope and believe he returned to work feeling refreshed and motivated, knowing that he had the support of his employer during this important life event.

Another male employee took advantage of our flexible work arrangement after his partner gave birth. He changed his schedule to help care for and support his partner during the postpartum period. By changing his schedule, he was able to bond and be an active and supportive partner during this critical time.

These are just a few examples of the many male employees at our company who have taken advantage of our paid parental leave policy and flexible work arrangements. We also believe in being a parent for your children, allowing employees to go to games and other important life events, which may involve adjusting their schedule. We believe supporting all parents in their caregiving responsibilities is essential to creating a workplace culture that values diversity, inclusivity, and work-life balance.

Career Advancement Based on Aptitude

Shankar’s strategic decision to promote me to COO nearly two years ago has had a lasting and impactful effect. One of the core components of our approach is promoting inclusivity and actively working to eliminate bias and discrimination. We believe in celebrating diversity and promoting inclusivity. When you are qualified to do the job, color and gender should be celebrated as an advantage your company has to resonate with different audiences and advocate for them by incorporating their life experiences into decisions that affect the client and the company.  An environment where all our employees feel valued and respected, regardless of their gender and color, starts at the top.

Supporting Women’s Mental Health

We also recognize the importance of supporting our employees' mental health. Mental health is crucial to overall well-being, and we strive to provide a work environment that promotes mental wellness. Our goal is to provide a supportive and accepting work environment that reduces the stigma around mental health and helps our employees maintain their mental wellness.

We understand that many women have caregiving responsibilities, making balancing work and personal responsibilities difficult.

Supporting Women at SHANKX with "Magic Day" or Menstrual Leave

We support our female employees by recognizing the unique needs of employees who experience pain and discomfort during their menstrual cycles. We offer menstrual leave to provide time off for employees needing it. As it was adopted from my time in South Korea, the menstrual leave is called “Magic Day.” Our menstrual leave policy provides paid time off for employees who may experience pain and discomfort during their menstrual cycles. This allows us to prioritize our health and well-being without worrying about the impact on the job.

This Women’s Month, I took the key takeaways from our speakers and attendees, Michelle DeStefano RN,MPA,NEA-BC , Kellie Pickett , Shanee Moret . Thank you to those who contributed and attended, such as Erin Elizabeth Lynch, CNP , Leslie Dagg , Mike Beverly , and Shankar Poncelet . We appreciate you!

I hope you enjoyed this Deep Dive. I wanted to highlight that we are working to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, supportive, and equitable for all our employees, particularly women. We recognize women's unique challenges in the workplace and strive to provide programs and policies that support their unique needs and experiences. By doing so, we hope to help all our employees thrive and reach their full potential professionally and personally. In what ways are you being inclusive?

Thanks for reading. Continue to make your mark!

Antréa Ferguson

P.S. Daily Affirmations have changed to Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 AM CT and are now being replaced with AI For Business on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 7:00 AM CT, hosted by Shankar Poncelet . If you're interested in AI For Business, check out their LinkedIn audio rooms. Unlike traditional broadcasts, these rooms offer a chance to interact, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation. And the best part? The beauty of LinkedIn audio events is that you'll have a much more personalized and engaging experience. So, don't be shy - come armed with your curiosity and burning questions! We’ll announce our next SHANKX Healthcare Speaker Series, which has changed to a monthly event every last Thursday, very soon!

See you next time.