TALKING
‘‘ business
To be seen and heard in this climate , women need to be understood and accepted .
they have a lower tendency to create their own platform and spotlight their achievements , which can result in them being side-lined .
How businesses can empower women to succeed in their roles
As part of the evolution in culture , we need to see more women in senior leadership positions where they can act as role models . When I started my career in banking this was severely lacking , but in the tech sector now we ’ re starting to see more and more women on boards and in leadership roles and this is a powerful statement for many reasons .
Primarily , this demonstrates to employees that the company values diversity and women have a place at the highest levels . Meanwhile , for women , it gives the sense that anything is possible , removing myths or barriers that they might have imposed on themselves . At Riverbed , we are extremely fortunate to have female representation at senior and executive levels and a diverse board demonstrating times have changed .
Secondly , finding ways to illuminate the great work already being done by many women , often hidden from view , is a strong signal of encouragement for others and an invitation to join their colleagues ! Allies can help to shine a light on individual successes . Diversity
Equity and Inclusion ( DEI ) and Employee Resource Groups ( ERGs ) coupled with employee communication programs can ensure these inspiring stories make it onto the stage .
Finally , when talking to most leaders about their journeys , having a mentor often plays a vital role , especially for women trying to navigate maledominated environments . At Riverbed , we have recently introduced a new Global Mentorship Program , open for employees at all levels wherever you work in the company . We view the opportunity to connect people , share skills and knowledge , as a great way to grow , attract and retain our talent .
The power of allyship
As I reflect on my personal experience at pivotal stages in my career , I ’ ve asked myself if I ’ d have been recognised and got this far if allies hadn ’ t proactively advocated for me and assisted me in positioning my ideas in a way that would resonate across my entire audience , including men .
The fact is , you can work twice as hard , deliver more , care more and do better but this alone doesn ’ t result in recognition and progression . I ’ ve quite often witnessed women quietly and diligently contributing significantly to business success and not being seen because their male counterparts think and see the world differently to the way they do . To be seen and heard in this climate , women need to be understood and accepted .
The answer to acceptance isn ’ t for women to try and be more like men , but to become comfortable in their true selves at work . After all , we all have something unique to offer . In my experience , playing to my strengths , building relationships and collaborating led to me building a strong network of both male and female supporters .
And the value of allies isn ’ t just felt at an individual level . Allies can draw on the different perspectives that men and woman bring to challenge each other ’ s points of view and ultimately broaden one ’ s thinking . This in turn leads to better decision-making and outcomes , while also creating a stronger more positive environment and culture of trust in the workplace .
We have the method , now we just need action
Ultimately , we know how to address gender bias in the workplace so the only thing left to do now is to act . By doing so companies can not only attract and retain female employees , helping to address the skills gap , but also achieve the diversity in thought needed to open new doors to business success . p
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