Rising Together: The Advantages of Working in the Company of Women

As a proud alumna of Smith, an all-woman's college, and Chairwoman of a thriving large company with a female employee majority, I can attest to the metamorphic power of women supporting and uplifting one another personally and professionally. During my time at college, I witnessed firsthand the palpable energy and contagious optimism that arose when women came together to collaborate and innovate.

The single-gender education environment was a crucible for empowerment, where young women were encouraged to take risks, assert themselves, and claim their seats at the table. This experience left an indelible impression on me. It shaped my leadership style and inspired me to create a company that reflects those same values. 

As we celebrate International Women's Day, I find myself reflecting on the immense benefits of infusing organizations, endeavors, and environments with female talent. Organizations that make space and provide resources for the limitless potential of women see a tremendous return on investment.

According to a McKinsey study, "… the greater the representation, the higher the likelihood of outperformance. Companies with more than 30 percent women executives were more likely to outperform companies where this percentage ranged from 10 to 30, and in turn these companies were more likely to outperform those with even fewer women executives, or none at all. A substantial differential likelihood of outperformance—48 percent—separates the most from the least gender-diverse companies."

Why such an impact on performance? What do women bring to the table that changes the game? From my experience thriving in and fostering female-forward environments, here are just a few of the most transformative traits women possess:

Honoring diverse perspectives

Organizations that deliberately employ women enrich themselves with a diverse range of perspectives. Each woman brings unique life experiences, skills, and talents to the workplace. And most women appreciate and recognize another's lived experience. They connect around their commonalities but also value their differences. This diversity of experience is viewed as a strength that helps enhance creativity, innovation, and problem-solving – which leads to better decisions and the achievement of better outcomes.

Despite the tragic overturning of Roe v. Wade, we don't need to look further than the Supreme Court to appreciate the impact of female representation. The presence of female Justices has broadened the range of experiences and backgrounds that inform the Court's decision-making, allowing for a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

Justice Ginsburg, the first Jewish female justice, was a fierce advocate for women's rights and was instrumental in shaping laws that advanced gender equality. Her famous dissent in the Lilly Ledbetter case helped prompt the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which expanded workers' rights to sue over overpay discrimination. Justice Sotomayor, the first Latina Justice, has similarly brought an important perspective to the Court on issues such as healthcare and affirmative action. And now, Ketanji Brown Jackson is not only the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court but also the first former public defender to be appointed. The League of Women Voters explains why her addition is crucial: "Justice Jackson brings new perspective and experience to the nation's highest court, which decides (or disposes of) critical criminal cases every year, including those concerning the constitutional rights of criminal defendants, racial bias in the criminal legal system, and the death penalty." Diversity of perspective has a compounding impact.

EQ-driven leadership

My personal and professional experience abounds with proof that women are natural leaders with a style that tends to be more collaborative, inclusive, and empathetic. But if academic evidence is required, a recent study explored whether the female tendency for higher emotional intelligence (EQ) gave them the leadership advantage over men. It found that higher female EQ does, in fact, have better leadership outcomes. High EQ leaders are more empathetic, are more attuned to their teams, actively listen, and are better communicators – all characteristics typically associated with women.

Jacinda Ardern, the recently resigned Prime Minister of New Zealand, is the personification of EQ-driven leadership. Known for her empathy and strong communication skills, she displayed remarkable compassionate leadership of her country during national tragedies such as the Christchurch shooting and the COVID-19 pandemic. And in her resignation, she leads again by normalizing the prioritization of mental health and self-care.

Resilience & strength

Women are emotionally resilient and mentally tough. Whether in the boardroom or on the home front, women demonstrate an admirable ability to figure out solutions, overcome obstacles, and navigate systematic barriers. Since girlhood, women move through their lives facing stress and adversity that doesn't cross the minds of men – and this is exponentially the case for women of color. The embodiment of resilience and strength is Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall, who became the first Black woman CEO of an NBA team in 2018. With a career full of 'firsts,' the abusive childhood and cancer survivor is recognized for her leadership in transforming the once toxic misogynistic culture of the Dallas Mavericks organization. 

Flexibility

A close cousin to resilience is flexibility. Women are often called upon to juggle multiple responsibilities, including work, family, and personal obligations. As a result, women tend to be highly skilled at managing their time and resources and are often able to be highly flexible and adaptable. There are too many women that I can name that personify this characteristic. One of the most powerful memories I have of the pandemic lockdowns is the Zoom glimpse I got into the lives of 24 Seven's female employees who were clearly shouldering the greater mental load of the household. If I had to launch another company, I hope it would once again be a magnet for fierce, flexible, and fantastic women. I have no doubt that having a majority of female employees, the flexibility of our team helped us to respond to market conditions and customer needs with agility.

The positive traits I have chosen to explore are just but a few of the impactful female characteristics that can shape organizations for the better – and for profit. But we don't need to be in a position to hire or to own a company in order to create a more equitable and inclusive society. We can each do it by embracing gender diversity and choosing to support organizations that are female-friendly – as consumers, as employees, as donors, and as volunteers. Our choices and behaviors empower us. And empowered women empower women.

Originally published on www.celestegudas.com