How to Increase Women in Leadership (And Why We Should)

The battle for gender equality in the workplace is one that is decades old. Despite tireless efforts and small victories, the problem continues to persist in the modern world with marginal progress.

Recent studies conclude that an alarming number of top-tier positions are very rarely obtained by women who sacrifice more time and money than their male counterparts to earn an education worthy of a paygrade that they can’t seem to get their hands on. According to modern day research and statistics, almost half of businesses around the world still have neglected to employ even just one woman in a senior management position.

Protests continue, campaigns and movements persist, but this global, self-inflicted handicap is terribly slow to heal. Continuing to sideline women will, among other things, rob businesses of the value that female laborers bring to the table.

However, more and more companies are starting to step up in their commitment to help elevate women to take on more leadership roles. One of the companies leading the way is Davinci Virtual Office Solutions, a Utah based business, who understands the importance of women in leadership and is striving to ensure more women have a seat at the table.

The Importance of Including Women in Business Leadership

What seems to be the most frustrating part of gender inequality is the undeniable value that we’ve seen women bring to the workplace time and time again. Below are just a few great examples of inspirational women in leadership.

Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is an icon of empowered women across this globe and has topped Forbes’ list of most powerful women multiple times during her time in office. This impressive, revolutionary woman has made great strides in her field and her country as the chancellor for Germany. Merkel has held her position in office for three terms now (since 2005) which has only been accomplished by one male counterpart in German history.

A few of her accomplishments include fending off the most recent recession, mobilizing an energy reform that would shut down more than two dozen nuclear reactors in Germany, and playing an active role in abolishing country-wide conscription.

Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr is famous for her film and movie roles, but she was an inventor and mathematician as well. Her spread spectrum technology helped encrypt allied communications in World War II, was used in the Cuban Missile Crisis, and now forms the backbone of wireless communications, from fax to cellular and more.

Spectrum spreading involves hopping from one frequency to another rapidly which makes interception very difficult. This makes it an ideal technology for securing communication, particularly wireless communication, which makes secure bluetooth, GPS, and WiFi possible.

Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, is a prime example of American women in leadership. Sandberg has been named one of the most influential female executives in the country and has quite a history in leadership and empowerment.

Sheryl has been fulfilling the role of chief operating officer for Facebook since 2008, in which time she has been given credit for drastically increasing the network’s revenues. Before her time in an executive position at the top social networking site in America, she spent six years as the vice president for Google, where she played a crucial role in the development of the search engine’s advertising programs.

Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates has made a powerful impact in several areas of the American workforce during her time as the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This influential female leader has been named the most powerful woman in philanthropy thanks to her dedication to improve worldwide health conditions.

Thanks to Melinda’s health focus and foundation efforts, the number of maternal deaths in Ethiopia has decreased by an astounding 57%, resulting in a ripple effect that has had a positive impact across the country.

With countless examples of strong women in leadership who are making great differences in the world, it’s easy to see that gender inequality impairs everyone — not just women. By choosing to empower more females in the workforce, businesses will gain fresh perspectives, unparalleled worth ethics, and respect and support from the community.

How to Get Involved

Make a difference today by getting involved in the fight against gender inequality. To help you on your way, we’ve provided you with a few ways you can initiate change for the better in your company and home town.

ElevateHER Challenge

The ElevateHER Challenge is a proactive movement in levelling the playing field for men and women in small businesses and major corporations across the world. By accepting the challenge, you pledge to make a number of changes in the way your company treats its female employees, including increasing the number of women in top-tier positions and closing the gender gaps.

Parity Pledge

With the Parity Pledge, you can make a change on the corporate and/or personal level. Regardless of which pledge you choose to take, the process is quick and easy and demands very little of the individual. As you make strides to improve gender equality in your company, you will be recognized and applauded for your efforts by the Parity Pledge community.

Select Your Own Initiative

There are countless initiatives around the world with the purpose of empowering women and improving gender equality. By selecting your own initiative, you can find and adhere to a pledge or program that you personally connect with and believe in. You can do a little research to find out how you can make a difference, or you can sift through a few fantastic initiatives listed by Empower Women.

What Davinci Is Doing

Davinci takes gender equality seriously.

In fact, Davinci is made up of 90% women and most of their leadership positions are filled by empowered females. Along with elevating women to take on more leadership roles, Davinci has also taken active steps toward improving the situation in Utah with a number of pledges, commitments, and initiatives.

Davinci is proudly committed to the Parity Pledge, agreeing to interview at least one female candidate for open positions in management and above. The company also received an award at the Women’s Leadership Institute’s 4th Annual ElevateHER Challenge, which is dedicated to helping companies develop and elevate female leadership.

Davinci is striving to make a difference in the Silicon Slopes and beyond, but what truly matters, is that we join forces and make a change worldwide. Together, local and foreign businesses can take small steps to play a major role in creating a world wherein women are seen and treated as equal counterparts to men.

Step up and make a change in your company today.