As women, we’ve been encouraged to proudly and boldly take our seat at the table. But what happens when the door is locked, and we can’t enter the room with the table? What does it say when women take a seat at the table but aren’t given the chance to own that table? What does this say about women? What does it say about our value?
As the world navigates the complexities of gender inequity and the systems that hold it in place, individual women are trying to navigate their own industries. Hard work alone will not earn recognition from the system. Often, you need connections, clout, or a mentor to open doors for you. Those “doors”—including jobs, projects, or speaking opportunities—have been shut to women for decades.
The pandemic and its ripple effects woke up many people to the fact that they weren’t as happy as they’d thought in their jobs. They discovered there were things missing in their corporate environment, from support and flexibility to trust and autonomy.
McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org released their annual report, Women in the Workplace, in late September. The report’s summary opens: “A year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, women have made important gains in representation, and especially in senior leadership.”
Tyler Gallagher, CEO and Founder of Regal Assets, interviews Areva Martin.
Author Areva Martin provides insight on creating a more gender-equitable workplace, with her new self-help book, “Awakening.”