“Why do people assume women aren’t qualified to be in leadership positions?”
A few hands go up with confidence.
“People say women are emotional.”
“Women might take time off to have children.”
As the answers came in, the 70-plus “Elevating Women in Leadership: Strategies for Support and Success” event attendees nodded in support.
Sara Reed, Ed.D, spoke to CLS Staff about women in leadership.
Sara Reed, Ed.D., the speaker and the one who proposed the question listened attentively, no doubt a list she’s heard many times.
Reed, vice president of people and talent at Western Governors University, was a guest speaker at the Associate Vice Chancellor Speaker Series events, an initiative by Jon Giacomi (pictured above, left), associate vice chancellor at Campus Life Services, to advance professional development and culture.
In addition to thought-provoking questions that got the room talking, she passionately talked about people and the benefits recognition, engagement, and equity have on employee experience and, as a result, on business.
“I believe it's important to engage in discussions about women's empowerment and leadership. These conversations aren't just women's issues, they're societal issues that affect all of us,” said Dwayne Taylor, senior facilities manager.
Her presentation heavily relied on her own experience as a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, a leader at UC Davis and other institutions, and a mother. She’s had to overcome perceptions that because she’s a woman, she is not fit for men-dominated roles. When she became one of two women lieutenants in the room full of men of similar and lower designation, she overheard, “They probably needed a woman.”
Citing statistics and studies, she highlighted that even though women are proven to be strong and, in many cases, better leaders, they still make up one in four of all women and one in sixteen women of color c-suite-level executives.
“Our culture here at the university tends to be much more inclusive than what I've experienced in the private sector, so I can personally confirm some of her statistics but she's absolutely right when she says any effort made toward inclusivity helps everyone in the long run,” shared Melissa Cherry, assistant director, Facilities Services.
The inequity in pay for the same job and level of education shows a similar result. On average all women earn 85 cents to the dollar that a man gets. Looking into the number further, Black women earn 69 cents and Hispanic women earn 57 cents.
"It is crucial for leadership to understand these gaps and mindfully work towards providing equality in the job market. This was a valuable insight,” concludes Henok Demisse, administrative assistant, Transportation.
How CLS Is Supporting Women in the Workforce
Leadership Development Program cohort 2023-24
- At CLS, women hold seven out of ten executive positions.
- CLS is centralizing pay setting and equity with a professional HR leader.
- CLS is currently doing person by person equity review for all policy-covered / non-represented staff.
- CLS sponsors a Leadership Development Program, and 45% of the total 76 participants have been women. The 2009 cohort was all female.
- CLS has sponsored women in the UC Coro Women’s Leadership Institute, as well as at WACUBO and other tailored programs for women in higher education.
- Last but not least, Jon and his executive team are open to other suggestions for reviewing CLS policies, practices, and norms. Please email Jon directly with your ideas.
Reed’s Reading List
Articles:
Women Get Nice Feedback and It Holds Them Back: https://hbr.org/2023/01/women-get-nicer-feedback-and-it-holds-them-back
Women in Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age: https://hbr.org/2023/06/women-in-leadership-face-ageism-at-every-age
Research: Women Are Better Leaders During a Crisis: https://zengerfolkman.com/articles/research-women-are-better-leaders-during-a-crisis/
How Women in Leadership Demonstrate and Cultivate Confidence: https://zengerfolkman.com/articles/how-women-in-leadership-demonstrate-and-cultivate-confidence/
Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome: https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop-telling-women-they-have-imposter-syndrome
Books:
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men: https://a.co/d/069j2oTv
When Women Lead: What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them: https://a.co/d/0ig2UEuA
