Articles Close the Gap – Support Women in Business

Close the Gap –  Support Women in Business

The World Economic Forum’s Global Gap Report indicates that it could take 100 years to close the gender gap.

It’s a significant challenge that requires a commitment from organizations and leaders at all levels,  in the workplace and at home to play a role. Whether you own a business, lead a team, we can all do our part to advance women.

Everyone can close the gender gap. Here are a few ways that you can show you SupportHER!

  1. Support Women-Owned Businesses

When we support and shop women-owned businesses, you are supporting her to provide jobs, raise her family, leave a legacy, inspire other women to take leadership roles.

Supporting women-owned businesses can also be done by using your network to:

  • Word of mouth is a powerful referral tool as it comes from a trusted source. If you like something don’t keep it a secret!
  • Make an email introduction to someone in your network to open the door to an opportunity. An introduction is extra valuable as you have personally referred her;
  • Collaborate, partner, and sponsor women-owned business that align with your corporate values and goals;
  • Feature women-owned business owners to share their stories, challenges, and path to success.
  1. Recognize Achievements of Women

Be a champion to strengthen and elevate women in business.

  • Nominate for Women of Inspiration Awards to publicly acknowledge their achievements and raise their profile and credibility locally, nationally and globally. Nominate a Woman of Inspiration in 25 Diverse Categories across Canada.
  • Let her know her work is inspiring and making an impact.
  • Provide her with a Letter of Recommendation to highlight her strengths, experiences, accomplishments, commitment, what makes her unique, why she is deserving of recognition, and why you SupportHER;
  • Leave a review on LinkedIn, YELP, Google, or website’
  • Share a positive or encouraging note on Social Media;
  • Share, comment announcements, posts;
  • LinkedIn is a professional platform that can provide her with visible support for her work and evident;
  • Send an email or write a handwritten card or letter;
  • Prioritize raising the profiles of your qualified leaders within your organization.
  1. Invite Women to Speak

If you are hosting an event panel, discussion, invite a woman to speak and share her expertise.

  • Show your organization is leading by example and engage qualified women to speak on the topics, share their leadership, work experiences.
  • Elevating your leaders enables them to build trust, hone communication skills.
  • Provide leadership and develop your voice of authority.
  • Representing your organization or business by speaking provides credibility within your industry or area of expertise.
  • Speaking provides the opportunity to drive change, influence, inspire and serve as role models to others.

Do you have the knowledge to share? Apply to join our Speaker Bureau.

Looking for speakers for Virtual or In-Person Events, conferences, panels or corporate initiatives? Contact us

  1. SupportHER, Diversity Leader

Whether you have formal womens’ initiative, a committee, or an idea. Creating a plan for your leadership is critical to attracting and keeping top talent in your organization. Do you have a Diversity and Inclusiveness Initiative? Do you offer your leaders the opportunity to share their knowledge, network, learn from leaders in diverse industries, a community for support?

  • Recognize and feature your leaders publically and internally for their accomplishments;
  • Provide opportunities for your leaders to attend conferences, workshops to network with other leaders;
  • Provide your leadership team with opportunities to build their personal and professional circle of influence by joining a Corporate Membership Program to share best practices, learn from others, receive support;
  • Encourage leaders to speak on panels, at conferences to elevate their leadership and elevate your company diversity and inclusiveness initiatives.
  • In meetings, recognize sold ideas, give credit where credit is due;
  • Encourage your leaders to participate in mentorship or coaching programs to share knowledge and expertise. A mentor/coaching relationship strengthens confidence and leadership mentality.

Learn about the benefits of Universal Womens Network™ Corporate Membership. Contact Us.

  1. Women on Boards

The first step to creating a diverse and inclusive environment is to educate your team on the importance and value of women on boards and remove the barriers for them to gain experience.

  • Communicate opportunities for candidates to be identified or who show interest in taking on board role;
  • Create a career path and opportunities to mentorship, or to shadow a board role;
  • Educate men about unconscious bias and create a goal within your organization to make it happen;
  • Recognize female leaders within your organization as passionate, strategic and forward-thinking.
  • Provide visibility for leaders to let their skills shine;
  • In meetings, recognize solid ideas, give credit where credit is due;
  • Prioritize raising the profiles of your qualifies leaders with opportunities to speak on panels, and lead projects,
  1. Mentorship

Having a SupportHER who can pay it forward by sharing their knowledge and expertise with female entrepreneurs and professionals is critical to advancing women personally and professionally. Becoming a Mentor, advisor or sponsoring a woman makes an immediate impact by boosting her confidence and letting her know that she has someone invested in her success.

Do you want to mentor a woman? Looking for a Mentor? Apply for the MentorHER Mentorship Program.

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