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Being the only woman in the room

Women are still underrepresented in technology. This is despite greater corporate commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion, persistent social movements, and significant investments in STEM-related early education. Women only make up about 25% of CIOs across industries, according to a recent Statista survey. Only 5% of leadership roles in the tech industry are held by women. Despite numerous studies suggesting that female-created firms outperform those founded by males, women are underrepresented among entrepreneurs. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only around 20% of all employers are women-owned businesses. And that number might decrease as a result of increased female unemployment and a higher percentage of women quitting the labor force as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic. In light of this, it is understandable that, although working with more female peers and clients than in the past, it is still commonplace to be the only woman in a room.

Own and embrace your individuality. 

You may not have completely acknowledged the biases that exist in your career. Or how your gender could affect you at work. Gender affects how other people perceive you. This can be via reading and listening to thought leaders in the sector, personal experiences and conversations with colleagues. 

Companies need the viewpoints of women. According to 85% of CEOs whose companies have a diversity and inclusion policy, both customer happiness and business performance improvement.

Being an empathic leader gives you the ability to recognize some of the more subtle effects of your actions. You may have a high level of emotional intelligence or are intuitive. This gives you the capacity to discern what is actually bothering a client or influencing a colleague’s behavior.

It also makes it more difficult for someone to forget you since you’re the only woman in the room. That distinction will make it simpler for you to network, establish relationships, and schedule follow-up talks.

Keep an open mind, take chances, and master the art of saying no.

Being inquisitive, constantly trying to pick up new abilities, and putting yourself out there for opportunities to develop those skills are all sound career advice. However, women might need to be more deliberate about it.

Women should raise their hands when opportunities arise that will enhance their careers and personal and professional goals. It is important to be able to feel free to decline other requests.

Women are more likely to say “yes” to projects when requested since they often feel obligated to. Research supports this. The average female employee will spend 200 more hours a year on non-promotable work than her male peers, regardless of level.

Women can frequently experience the sense they have to take on more responsibility or act as a representative for all female partners at the firm.

Women should consider the following three factors before accepting a project or extracurricular activity.

Will this help me achieve my professional or personal goals?
Does this align with a goal or priority for the company?
Can I do this assignment without it affecting my other obligations?

Although accepting just one leadership development opportunity won’t significantly enhance your career, it may unintentionally start a snowball effect.

Build on the legacies of other female leaders.

While there are advantages to being the only woman in the room, it’s wrong that it can so often be the case.  Businesses, whether they are startups or established companies, have shown to be more successful when there is a greater variety of gender, race/ethnicity, and/or ability.

All types of women must be present in the room where choices are made. Businesses won’t get the outcomes they need and anticipate without these crucial viewpoints.

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