While society has come a long way in supporting women in the workplace, some industries are still lagging behind, and women in these fields face a variety of challenges.
Between pervasive stereotypes, perceived work/life demands and a lack of opportunity, women face an uphill battle to advance their careers in sectors like finance, sports, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), just to name a few.
Breakfast of Champions in support of SickKids, an annual roundtable networking event for young professionals, gathered insights from some of its “champions” who have become leaders in these male-dominated industries, and they offered top career advice for women to succeed in the business community.
Believe in the power of mentorship
Maryann Turcke, Chief Operating Officer of the National Football League suggests,“Building a diverse set of relationships is very important when starting your career. Young professionals, particularly women, should capitalize on events like Breakfast of Champions to expand their network and to meet experienced professionals. Business events and conferences are an ideal way to also seek out mentors and coaches but more importantly, to connect with a leader in your particular field or industry.”
“I’m a passionate believer in the power of mentorship,” added Lisa Lisson, President of FedEx Canada. “My mentors guided me practically and philosophically, served as my sounding board, saw talents in me that I didn’t know I had, and showed confidence in me when I lacked it in myself. I view them all as collaborators in my success, and speaking as a mentor myself, I do my best to pay it forward.”
By offering up their career play books, mentors help other women develop traits, habits, skills and best practices to become more effective leaders in the workplace, spurring their careers forward. But there is still more that can be done.
“We need more professional females to be role models and mentors. To show other women, if I can do this, so can you,” advised Michele Romanow, co-founder of Clearbanc and serial entrepreneur. “While women control 80 per cent of consumer purchasing power, women do not make up 80 per cent of boardrooms. We need to show women at a young age that they can pursue a career in any field they have a passion for, and that they deserve a seat at the table.”
Push self-doubt to the side
Doubt can creep in at any time, under any circumstance – not just in regards to professional abilities.
“There could be many reasons why you’re not where you hope to be but if one is that you’re waiting until the temperature’s perfect before you put your toe in the water, you’re going to wait a long time. Some women put their career goals on hold to raise a family or they hesitate to seek promotions for which they’re qualified because they fear they won’t be able to manage on both fronts. But the two aren’t mutually exclusive. If you wait for the stars to align before you get going, you’re engaging in a form of self-sabotage because you’re limiting yourself,” said Lisson.
Take Risks
The old adage “fortune favours the bold”, doesn’t just belong on an inspirational mug, it’s a mantra that many successful business leaders follow. While strategy and calculations are important parts of any business, women need to take risks too.
“If I could put a message on a billboard for women in business it would say: successful people do what unsuccessful people aren’t willing to do,” says Romanow. “I see so many female entrepreneurs waiting, afraid to take the plunge, but I say that they just need to launch. Just start and fix later. Don’t wait until the product is perfect, you will learn along the way.”
Although successful women in the business community may attribute their success to many different factors, leveraging a supportive network and stepping up to take ownership of your career have emerged as a common thread. Believing in your abilities and drawing inspiration from other strong female leaders is just the start to paving the path to success.
Lisa Lisson, Michele Romanow and Mary Ann Turcke all participated as champions at the 7th annual Breakfast of Champions in support of SickKids in Toronto. Alongside approximately 30 other top-tier Canadian business leaders, they offered young professionals their candid career advice at the round-table charity networking event. Since its inception in 2012, Breakfast of Champions has raised over $750,000 for various under funded areas at SickKids. Proceeds from this year’s event will be donated to the Division of Cardiology at SickKids. To learn more, please visit http://www.breakfastofchamps.ca.
