Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | February 7, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Help women of color succeed V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L F acebook has this feature showing you random memories of what was shared on that day in the past. I used to love them, but now, in COVID times, the memories feel like decades ago instead of a handful of years. I don't remember living so carelessly. at's probably because I am tired. Mentally, emo- tionally, physically TIRED. Trying to juggle a career, a household, and the wellbeing/health of my children and myself is a feat not for the lightheart- ed. It's starting to take its toll. If there is one thing almost every- one can agree on, it is these past two years have been tough. is time has been especially tough on women in the workforce. From being understaffed, to managing work schedules, to accommodate remote learning while remote working, women everywhere are struggling just to stay afloat. Sadly, the pandemic has taken a toll on women attaining leadership positions, with some even choosing to take a step back in their career trajectory in order to obtain a feeling of balance. e Great Resignation may sound silly, but it's real. I had a friend resign from all volunteer commitments and her job to take a lower titled, yet fully remote, position in a different field, just to obtain some sort of control and comfort in her life. Women everywhere are tired. Women of color are still struggling to even obtain entry into leadership positions, with the Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey, in partnership with LeanIn.Org, showing only 4% of C-suite positions held. With the racial reckoning brought on in 2020, organizations and leaders vowed commitment to creating diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments. Flashy ads and well-craed statements came from all directions. But, at the end of the day, gains in representa- tion were not made – today is still the same 4% in 2016. I am, frankly, tired of seeing that percentage stay the same. With one in three women surveyed by McKinsey re- porting they have considered leaving their jobs or down- shiing their career to abate the burnout, companies need to look for ways to support their women employees to ensure the right, diverse talent is engaged and allowed to attain or grow into leadership positions. Support women through offering professional devel- opment; keep that yearly women's leadership conference in your budget. An educational day with other motivated women can do wonders. Let flexible work schedules work for you. If the work gets done at 1 p.m. or 1 a.m., as long as deadlines are met, does it matter? Allow and encourage all to contribute during meetings. Give credit when it's due and acknowledge the achievements. Assertive voices don't equal aggression; be wary of un- conscious biases, especially when dealing with women of color. Remember that lived experience is experience; not every job requires a degree. Include salary ranges in your job descriptions. We're also tired of getting paid less. Melanie Bonsu is director of development & marketing for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. BY MELANIE BONSU Special to the WBJ The above Editorial is the opinion of the WBJ Editorial Board. The Viewpoint column, the A Thousand Words cartoon, and the Word from the Web commentary represent the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of WBJ or its staff. WBJ welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Send them to bkane@wbjournal.com. A T H O U SA N D WO R D S B Y R A M Ó N L . S A N D O V A L anking a generation of women leaders Melanie Bonsu P rogress is slow. Progress is painful. Prog- ress happens in fits and starts. What's true as a nation is true when it comes to gen- der equity in business leadership – it can seem a long way off. As WBJ's fih annual Boardroom Gap investigation found, the percentage of women holding executive or board positions at prominent local companies remains at 37%, the same as last year. ere were some notable gains – a 7-per- centage-point gain in women leaders at the region's public companies, as well as the number of compa- nies without any female leadership dropping from eight down to two. Yet, aer two years of hyperfocus on diversity, one would have expected more. Still, we shouldn't let how far there is to go let us overlook how much progress has been made, especially the many, many brave and talented women leaders who brought us to this point. When WBJ started e Boardroom Gap investigation five years ago, the percentage of women in business lead- ership was 33%. A 4-percentage-point gain isn't world-changing, but it is a small gain in the right direction. Over the course of two to three genera- tions, the region has gone from women in business leadership being an extremely rare occurrence to now having a substantial number of women in top positions, and we pause to reflect on the impact a handful of departing leaders had on the economy. In January, Laurie Leshin, the first female presi- dent at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, accepted a new position to be the first woman leader of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In her eight years, Leshin raised WPI's profile, establishing an outpost in Boston, starting a record $500-million fundraising campaign, and launching e Global School. Her focus on diversity turned WPI's student body from being male-dominated to now nearing equity, as the 2021 class was 44% female. Another higher ed leader moving on is Paula Rooney, who has led Dean Col- lege in Franklin as president for 27 years. Her steady hand has helped the school remain vibrant during a tumultuous time for the industry, adding bachelor's degree programs to its associate degrees offerings. In the nonprofit sector, Jan Yost is retiring aer 23 years with e Health Foundation of Central Massa- chusetts, which she's led since its founding in 2000. Since that time, the organization has awarded grants of more than $50 million for Central Massachusetts and has assets valued at $95 million. Yost will pass the baton to Amie Shei, the foundation's vice pres- ident of programs. Long-time State Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) in January announced she wouldn't seek re-election, ending 25 years on Beacon Hill, with a sharp focus on health care and education. In 2017, she became the second woman chosen to serve as president of the Massachusetts Senate. ese four are just a sampling of the women leaders who have had a tremendous influence on the region's economy over many years. eir work has been groundbreaking, and collectively they and many others contributed fresh ideas and perspectives making our business community stronger, while paving the way for the next generation of leaders to pick up where they le off. W W

• Cover