Today is International Women’s Day so we’re continuing our interview series with Founder and CEO of exaqueo, Susan LaMotte, and Christina Lock, Founder and CEO of Catch Talent, discussing this year’s International Women's Day theme: #EmbraceEquity. “The aim of the IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme is to get the world talking about ‘Why equal opportunities aren't enough.’ People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action,” reads the International Women's Day website.
To embrace equity, we need to start by finding and acknowledging the inequities in the workplace. This requires a commitment to understanding the unique challenges and experiences that women face. We can also embrace equity by supporting policies and initiatives that advance gender equality, such as equal pay, affordable childcare, paid family leave, and access to quality healthcare, as well as promoting inclusive attitudes and behaviors.
“I think bringing other females up the ladder, like putting a hand down and bringing them up, is really important to show that whatever stage of your life you’re at, you can have a seat at the table and have the important conversations. And take that into a C suite, because that is a huge need. And the studies out there, show that having a female executive in a boardroom makes organizations ten times more profitable, they're more creative, they have more compassion. So hopefully this continues on.”
Christina Lock, Founder and CEO of Catch Talent
“There's a real importance that needs to be consistent on things like paternity leave as well. Paternity leave actually has dropped from 44% of Fortune 500 companies to 27% just in the past six months. And that's really powerful. If you're not having that equitable leave, if you're not giving fathers or spouses the same opportunities as the mothers, then you're subconsciously, inevitably putting that burden on the mother to be away from business for so long. So those policies are really important.”
Susan LaMotte, Founder and CEO of exaqueo
Here are some tips on how you can better advocate and #EmbraceEquity for women in the workplace:
- Spend your budget on a women owned business, one owned by a #LGBTQ+ woman, or a woman of color.
- Check the salaries of the women on your team. Do they make as much as their male counterparts? If not, go advocate for them.
- Ask a female colleague for an example of mansplaining or adversity. Listen when she tells you.
- Ask procurement for a list of women-owned suppliers and the percentage of total spend that goes to them in your company.
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Catch Talent is a “high-touch recruiting agency that delivers end-to-end talent acquisition solutions to growing technology, digital media, and professional services companies.”