I have been told that women are powerful. Women can make a difference, have made a difference, and will continue to make a difference. I’ve been surrounded by women who have worked their way to the top, despite the roadblocks. Although there are many women who have found the courage to take on the workforce with gusto, there is still a wage gap, glass ceiling, or people who are rooting against you. American women workers make on average 77.4 percent of what their male counterparts make in a year, that means they have to work 22.6 percent more days to make as much money as men, Hegewisch wrote in an email to The Huffington Post. This being said, I feel that women need to be aware of the potential difficulties in the workplace. Below are a few encouraging pieces of advice to follow.
My advice for women early in their careers is to establish themselves as a brand that can evolve over time. Figure out what your brand stands for and how your brand can adapt as you grow in your career. Those women who rely on superficial characteristics to create her brand identity are challenged in the future when maturity exceeds youth. Therefore, focus on your brand appeal and how your brand acts the part you want to be and not the part you are. — Alexis Josephs, vice president, East Coast sales and strategy, VEVO
To stand out and excel, especially as a woman in the business world, you need to lead. Think of yourself as a leader first, and a consultant, designer, engineer, etc., second. This will be the foundation that steadies you through the challenges you will inevitably navigate. It will also be the springboard to new opportunities. -- Traci Entel, chief human capital officer and partner, Booz & Company
Don’t feel the need to “act like a man” to get ahead. Women are skilled multitaskers and should use this skill to their advantage vs. their male counterparts. Also, women are emotional beings. This doesn’t have to be a negative. Utilize your emotional skills within leadership roles to build strong relationships with your peers and direct reports. — Jennifer Mathis, associate director, Starcom
This advice from a New York Times article is specifically targeted for young women in the workplace. I found it encouraging to see three pages full of women CEOs, directors, and other leaders who realize the importance of building the confidence of young women to dream big. In order to be big, you have to dream big.
For more advice or information on the gender gap, feel free to take a look at these articles:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/13/business/readers-advice-for-young-women-in-the-workplace.html?pagewanted=3&_r=0
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/women-work-for-free_n_2775267.html
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