Women At Work: Celebrating female entrepreneurs and leaders

Why Women, Why Now

Last week’s celebration of International Women’s Day took on special meaning this year under the theme #BeBoldForChange. With women’s rights under threat, it has become even more important to take action towards gender equality. And as business leaders, it is up to us to lead the way.

And why wouldn’t we? Despite the fact that women are underrepresented in C-suite leadership and have less access to capital funding, studies show that companies with more female execs perform better and are more profitable.

In honor of our fellow female professionals, we’ve pulled together a list of important resources for women business leaders. From changing company culture to developing mentorship programs, challenge yourself this month to finding new ways to supporting your female employees.

2017 InnovateHER Challenge

The SBA is hosting a special competition to unearth innovative products and services that empower the lives of women and families. SBA is currently seeking host organizations to run local competitions for semi-finalists, who will then pitch their ideas at a national competition for awards totaling $70,000. Learn more about the competition here.

We won’t be able to achieve gender equality without the help of men. The HeForShe initiative by UN Women hopes to engage males around the world become agents of change. The website offers a multi-pronged approach to empowering organizations and individuals to speak out on issues of education, health, identity, work, violence, and politics.

Take action: Download the HeForShe Action Kit for your business to learn how you can drive action in your workplace. Get important research on women in business, as well as read case studies on improving gender equality from companies like AccorHotels, Tupperware and Unilever.

With the Obamacare repeal threatening the insurance of 24 million Americans, business leaders have stepped up to defend public health programs, particularly when it comes to women’s health. Tumblr and Planned Parenthood teamed up at this year’s SXSW to launch #TechStandsWithPP, a new initiative to bring awareness to women’s reproductive issues and raise donations for the organization.

Take action: Donations to organizations like Planned Parenthood and NARAL are always helpful, but if you want to actually do something, there are also volunteer opportunities where you can provide counseling or comfort to women or help petition for better access to birth control.

We’ve made great progress in America when it comes to women’s rights, from women’s suffrage to Roe vs. Wade to the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. But it’s not just laws we have to change (and defend!)—we still need to work hard on changing culture and attitudes and negative stereotypes that prevent women from achieving on an equal level as their male counterparts.

It will take both men and women working together to achieve this ideal, but it is worth the undertaking. Countries with higher levels of gender equality have higher economic growth and more successful governance. In short, when women win, we all win.

What's on our minds this month

Why Women, Why Now

2017 InnovateHER Challenge

+Impact Corner

HeForShe

#TechStandsWithPP

Sum Dates to Remember

Sum Stuff for your Radar

A Mighty Girl

Flâneuse: Women Walk the City

Adding it all up...