This month is International Women’s Day so I want to celebrate a woman who is a vital part of my business.
When women empower women, amazing things happen. So it’s fitting that the strapline on the IWD website is “Collaboration is key to advancing women’s equality.”
I have first-hand experience of the power of these collaborations, with my incredible EA, Kim.
A beautiful collaboration
As my EA (Executive Assistant), Kim works for a few hours each week for me. When we began working together, she had two children under the age of three.
This might not sound like a lot of time, but it fits in perfectly with Kim’s responsibilities as a mum. And for me, even two hours of Kim’s time, whenever that works for her, transforms my life and my business.
Together, we have created a win-win scenario. Together we have co-curated a role which fits around family demands and can be as flexible as needed.
And crucially, Kim’s contribution supports me with what I need to run my business.
Kim is smart. She has taken the time to get to know me as an entire person – mind, body and soul – and challenges me on this level. She makes intuitive decisions and she could run my business for me, in my absence (and I would completely trust her to do so).
Lost potential
But here’s the thing. There are very few (if any) roles that would give Kim the opportunity to work to her brain’s potential, in the hours she has available. So our collaboration is a big win for me – and a huge loss for other employers who don’t see this potential.
Kim is not alone. There are thousands of women who struggle to find work which fits their family commitments and their career aspirations. So how can we empower women to be able to fulfil their roles as mothers, carers, and as valuable contributors to the economy?
The national picture
Research shows that 1 in 10 women never return to their role they had before their maternity leave. Of those who do return, 19% consider leaving very quickly.
Mothers typically earn substantially less – a report from the Fawcett Society showed that women with two children earn 26% less than women without children. Fathers, however, see their earnings increase. And this is not surprising, as women with caring responsibilities experience barriers to progression in the workplace. Over one third of mothers stated that they felt stuck in their current job because it provided flexibility which may not be available in more senior or better paid positions.
For some women, the cost of childcare and lack of flexibility in job roles means that they are forced out of the jobs market altogether. Women are seven times more likely than men to be outside the labour market because of their caring responsibilities. One in ten women in their thirties – most likely to be caring for young children – are not in employment. That is over 450,000 women. This compares to just one in one hundred men in the same age category.
How to empower women through creative thinking
This month, when we are celebrating women, let us hope that more businesses recognise the untapped potential of women with family or caring responsibilities. With flexibility, creativity and smart collaboration, it is possible to create exciting roles that enable women to use their talents, and reap the economic rewards they deserve.
