Let’s Celebrate the Women Who Empower Us

In March, we celebrated Women’s History Month and honored the amazing talents, insights, experiences and contributions of women all around the world. As Microsoft’s Mala Anand said in a recent blog, “When women are empowered, society wins” and I couldn’t agree more! When I think about my own journey over the years and all the phenomenal women in my life, I’m blown away by what we accomplish each and every day, especially considering the events of the past year.

The pandemic has certainly been difficult for all of us, but as McKinsey points out, the effects have disproportionately impacted women. That’s why it’s more important than ever to recognize the women around us, to encourage and empower each other in whatever way we can, and to create a world that embraces our unique strengths.

Early in my career, I had many mentors, sponsors and supporters who helped me navigate through the industry, but it was rare to find seasoned women in leadership that could coach other women. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case, and today we have many examples of strong female leadership and role models to guide us. In the spirit of celebration, I want to share some of the powerful lessons I’ve learned from the women in my life, and encourage you to celebrate the ones in yours. Because when we empower women, we all win!

Why we need to hear from women if we want to succeed

The women who have shaped my life are truly too many to count, but I want to highlight a few that have made a lasting impact in one way or another on my career:

• Pam Conners – Pam hired me into Accenture and mentored me in my first couple of years there. She instilled in me the idea that I could do anything I put my mind to!
• Tiffany Wissner (Wentzel) – Tiffany and I met at Accenture’s onboarding camp in Chicago, and we have learned from one another every step of the way. We’ve navigated both personal and professional challenges for almost 30 years, and I wouldn’t be where I am without her.
• Caroline Dinsmore – While we only briefly worked together during my time at Oracle, she taught me the art and power of reinventing yourself and following your passion, and I continue to follow her wisdom to this day.
• Lynn Barker – Lynn hired me into Oracle UK and supported me as I embarked on my professional and personal learning journey outside of the US and across EMEA. I credit her for taking a big risk on me, and her faith in me changed my life forever.
• Shari (Lamecker) Rogalski – Shari and I crossed paths for a number of years working together to build data practices across Accenture and Informatica. Shari showed me just how authentic a leader can really be and what a difference true authenticity can make.
• Tamara Alairys – Tammy is a workstyle genius and attractor of talent and passion! I honed my sales adaptability and customer focus through engagements with her while I was at Informatica and Intel.
• Tonya Chung – Tonya is a dazzling and inspirational leader who challenges me to be my best self! She has pushed me to find my real passions and follow my dreams for the last 15 years and counting.
• Cathy Renison – Everyone needs a person in their life like Cathy, who can hold up a mirror to help you see what you need to see. Regardless of how much time we spend apart, she can always sift through the haze and help me see the truth.

Without these women, the world would be a different place for me, and I’m glad to know that I have so many incredible role models around me that encourage me each and every day. And the truth is, so do you!

It’s time to celebrate the women in our lives!

From yesterday’s pioneers and innovators like Katherine Johnson and Grace Hopper to today’s barrier-breakers like Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg, there’s no shortage of amazing and inspiring women that we could celebrate. But more so, there are those who impact our lives in both seen and unseen ways that deserve recognition.

Here are a few things we can do to ensure they get the attention they deserve:

1. Let’s increase the visibility of the women around us.

We all need to hear that we’re doing a good job. Whether through a phone call, email, text or short conversation, I encourage you to reach out to the women around you who have had an impact on your life – big or small – and tell them what they mean to you. And as much as we can, let’s use our voices and our platforms to share the stories of the women around us who make more possible! As activist Marian Write Edelman once said, “We can’t be what we can’t see.”

2. Let’s build inclusive workplaces so women can thrive.

Gender parity is still 100 years ahead of us, and it’s important to recognize the ways we still need to address equality in our communities and workplaces. I encourage you to take action and learn more about closing the gender equality gap. Let’s continue to encourage women to mentor and train other women! As Microsoft’s Ana Arriola puts it, “Representation matters, it’s imperative to cultivate a diverse network across disciplines, and challenge barriers and institutional inequities across our communities.”

3. Let’s champion diversity and female empowerment

Finally, it’s imperative for everyone, regardless of gender, to become champions of diversity. Last year Microsoft partnered with the Champions of Change to bring together tech sector leaders committed to achieving gender equality. As more partners come on board, the conversation will be amplified and we’ll begin to see lasting change across many industries, not just technology. To paraphrase Microsoft’s Rachel Bondi, “Together we can strive for gender equality across our industry and serve as a beacon of diversity.”

What’s Next?

With over 25 years of history supporting women at Microsoft, Gavriella Schuster has taken to LinkedIn to publish her article series called "BeCOME an Agent of Change.” Through inspiring stories and solid go-do guidance applicable to all, Gavriella shares actions each of us can take to drive for gender equity and it’s well worth the time to read. In addition to the measures shared, I encourage you to continue learning about diversity and inclusion and all of the incredible communities working toward gender equality, and to partner with us as we continue to create diverse technology and environments that support women worldwide.

Until Next Time,

Alyssa Fitzpatrick