Learning & development
5 HR Tips from Inspiring Women
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Mar 9, 2017
Women have been making headlines as of late through marches and by building a following on social with #futureisfemale. But according to the United States Department of Labor, only a little over half (57%) of women participate in the labor force. However 70% of women with children under 18 are part of the workforce, and only 26% of people employed in computer and mathematical occupations are women. Some women in the public eye have offered up tips to fuel in the workplace. Here are 5 worth highlighting.
1) Mila Kunis, actress and producer
Mila Kunis penned an essay for A-Plus, describing the discrimination she’s experienced in her career. In this essay she took a stand by showing how to bypass the rules of the boys club, shut down microaggressions that devalue women’s contributions, and not settle for anything less than the respect her work deserves. “It's what we are conditioned to believe — that if we speak up, our livelihoods will be threatened; that standing our ground will lead to our demise.” HR Tip: Encourage and empower women to be vocal in the workplace.2) Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx
Not only is Sara Blakely the youngest woman in the world to make $1 billion dollars on her own, but she’s also dedicated to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for mothers around the world. A mother of 4 herself, Blakely started the Belly Art Project. She called upon women to celebrate their baby bumps by painting their bellies. She then compiled a beautiful book of over 100 mothers-to-be, and donated the proceeds to support Every Mother Counts. You never know quite what’s in store for you when you have a new baby on the way, and you never know quite what’s ahead when you start a company. "Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else." HR Tip: Shift your definition of failure from not succeeding to not trying.3) Debbie Sterling, founder of GoldieBlox
Debbie Sterling started GoldieBlox to give little girls the toys and role models she wishes she’d had growing up. Sterling felt the gender gap in STEM fields of study first hand when she was an engineering student at Stanford. After she graduated, she made it her mission to close the gap. After a year of research she developed GoldieBlox and started disrupting the pink aisle. “With GoldieBlox, we’re creating stories with characters that break the stereotypes that toys for girls have to be about beauty, fashion and being a princess.” HR Tip: Never assume a candidate for any specific role looks a certain way.4) Sheila Lirio Marcello, CEO and founder of Care.com
Sheila Lirio Marcello spoke out about the importance of mandated paid maternity leave after an infant in New York City died the first day separated from his mother. Not only did she call for mandated parental leave, she also called for a cultural shift to combat the pressure parents feel to return to work. “We need to do a better job valuing our caregivers and the critical role of care in our economic security.” HR Tip: Maternity leave is critical to ensure women are able to maintain their long-term role in the workforce, and achieve more leadership positions.5) Lisa Sugar, President and Editor in Chief of POPSUGAR
Lisa Sugar released her book Power Your Happy"Power Your Happy" this year in which she encourages people to find a career that brings them joy every single day. In her talk at Glassdoor Summit she encouraged our audience to empower their happy. One key takeaway: say no to things you’re not passionate about. “Work hard. Play nice.” HR Tip: Enable every employee to work to their highest potential. We look to these women as inspiration for the kind of culture we want to help companies build across all industries. At Glassdoor, we believe in transparency around pay and what it’s like to work at a company. To learn more about how you can enable your workforce, download our Complete Guide to Employee Engagement Activities.Glassdoor Team
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Tags:Women at Work
