On Another Way GROW! + Our Executive Career Coaching Strengthens Women in the Workplace:
#Sponsorship
Recently, I was asked to partner with an incredible organization many in my network may not have been exposed to: Wnet - Women's Network in Electronic Transactions.
This may be of particular interest to those attending the @Automotive Intel Summit with me next week in Raleigh, NC, courtesy of Cherokee Media Group as #Wnet is heavily engaged in FinTech.
Wnet's objectives are clear:
"To create a stronger and more diverse industry by empowering and investing in women."
Like me, they seek to do this with male ally-ship, but in its absence, their goals remain steadfast.
One of the cohort spearheading the efforts on driving Coaching and Career Growth is Cynthia Knowles. She shared this #HBR article with us in a planning session and I wanted you to have it at hand.
You see, talking about 'adding women' certainly won't happen on its own.
🎯 This is not a numbers game as we have seen still prevailing throughout Automotive Retail. While Dealers may add 'bodies' or headcount checking the female box, payroll percentages trail men's by 60% or more.
Merely 10-15% of Dealerships' payroll dollars are going to women. These figures are actually quite generous.
💲 Where is the money?
❓ Can we do better?
This clearly requires more of a concentrated effort with accountability.
👏 We need to be advocates for women in our workplaces.
Rather, we need better workplaces in Automotive, period.
We need environments where leaders are actively seeking to attract, educate, empower and grow leaders of all genders.
Here is a clip from #HBR:
"The similarity principle – which affects all workplace relationships — is even stronger when it comes to sponsorship, because the stakes are higher. Sponsorship is a kind of helping relationship in which senior, powerful people use their personal clout to talk up, advocate for and place a more junior person in a key role. While a mentor is someone who has knowledge and will share it with you, a sponsor is a person who has power and will use it for you.
When it comes to this important distinction, the evidence is also clear: women tend to be over-mentored and under-sponsored."
👉 Did this resonate with you?
I'm not looking to give women an unfair advantage. This would be nearly impossible any way!
I am working diligently and undeterred toward giving them their own voices, clear strategies and unabashedly asking male leaders to use their voices to highlight this talented, underserved, 'underseen' talent pool.
For. their. own. good.
I strongly recommend to all reading this to share and discuss at your organization.
As I close, I am eternally grateful to Aubrey Amatelli for introducing me to Wendy (Tronge) Holliday, M.Ed., CAE and Wnet - Women's Network in Electronic Transactions. There is much more exciting news ahead.
#BetterTogether.
It starts with lifting your thoughts and your voices.
Many thanks-L
