I’ve occasionally heard references that women in business don’t have a good-ole-boys network – that we don’t have a fraternal order of sorts in the way we conduct business amongst our female associates. But when I think of the framework of a good-ole boys network: “a male who embodies the unsophisticated, good fellowship and sometimes boisterous sociability regarded as typical of white males of small towns and rural areas of the South. A person who belongs to a network of friends and associates with close ties of loyalty and mutual support” – I think it’s just fine to leave that good ole network to the fellowship for which it’s designed.
As women, we bring our own flair to different work styles, independent approaches to life, and a savviness in bridging networks and building community connections. There’s an unmatched power we possess as women where we have the effortless ability to galvanize a group of fellow impassioned women to support a cause, a dream, a campaign, a community-wide effort, and each other.
When women support each other in solidarity in business, we produce a collection of resources for tailored industry expertise, workplace support systems, sage wisdom, experienced counsel, new career opportunities, and trusted support. The most revered women are the women who demonstrate a vested interest in the success and growth of fellow women. Think of Madeleine K. Albright, the consummate supporter of women’s empowerment and an advocate of female inclusion in politics, higher education, corporate businesses, and communities. She’s also credited for her infamous quote, “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support other women.”
Adopting a sisterhood in business – fierce support of women’s advancement at all levels of business – is to create a system that elevates and promotes the diverse qualities and valued strengths women bring to the workplace. It’s advocating for each other’s voices and jointly celebrating our respective wins. The power of the sisterhood in business is what propels women towards unstoppable career success, and it separates the conscious female advocates from the vindictive female adversaries.
The more women demonstrate the power of women supporting women, the more widespread the act of empowered women empowering other women. To join in this mutual support, start by being aware of efforts made to support women in office dynamics, coachable moments, and sharing new opportunities. This collective effort opens doors for leadership, elevated morale, and inclusive shifts in work culture.
Think of your average group meetings. What was once held in a traditional conference room setting is now being conducted virtually. Now, take a moment to recall the players in the room or on the virtual call. Does the group reflect diverse gender, ethnic, cultural, and lifestyle representation? It’s in these group settings when the diversity of thought is of measurable value. It’s been noted that varied perspectives increase profits. As reported in a 2018 Forbes article, “Companies with more culturally and ethnically diverse executive teams were 33% more likely to see better-than-average profits.”
It’s good business to be conscious of diverse teams, but it’s also essential to foster an environment that welcomes input from diverse representation. In this case, ensure that women have a voice when seated at the proverbial table. The power of the sisterhood in business is where we stay in tune with meeting agenda flow by facilitating opportunities for aspiring female leaders to speak up and contribute to the meeting confidently. Better yet, when you witness a woman being discredited or her idea disregarded in a group meeting, show support by sharing your appreciation for her voice with the group.
Showing support of other women in meetings is also applicable outside of mutual coworker settings. As women who champion the causes led by other women, there is tremendous value in being in attendance at meetings or events hosted by fellow female leaders. Whether it be a community fundraiser or a social gathering, arrive in support and bring along others to join in solidarity. Or even consider hosting a forum where women can contribute and share big ideas associated with a systemic issue.
I’ve become a big fan of a female business empowerment group. It is KIN Connected – a global community of women leaders in pursuit of their passions – KIN is built on the belief that women should invest in themselves and their fellow badass women and that as women, we can do networking better. Co-founders Meredith Marshall and Kelly (Underell) Stevensbring groups of 20+ business women together in peer-to-peer discussions designed to explore each individual’s full potential and empower them to go after dreams that may feel out of reach.
One of the most impactful acts of support is professional mentorship in actively demonstrating support for other women. Some companies offer executive sponsorship programs where an established corporate leader is matched with a young aspiring leader.
Female executives who have navigated workplace gender inequalities have unique career mentorship they can offer fellow women. The power of the sisterhood is being responsive to women who seek your counsel. It’s allocating time, no matter how limited, to answering questions and providing solicited feedback.
From very early on in my career, I’ve had aspirations of professional growth and advancement. Throughout my career journey I’ve had the honor of receiving mentorship from female community leaders who have responded to my call for professional guidance. I would send an email requesting one hour of their time, and I would outline what I hoped to learn from them in the meeting. (As much as I valued their mentorship, I equally respected their time.) No matter the varying stages of my career, I’ve sought counsel on pursuing promotions, requesting salary increases, and entering into managerial roles.
Today, I can look back on several women who generously provided sound mentorship: April Thayer, Amy Levi, Sandra Kulli, Teri Slavik-Tsuduchi, Chessie Little, Michelle Lucero, Kelly Brough, Christine Benero, and others. These women taught me the power of the sisterhood in business, and because of their willing support, I’ve committed myself to pay it forward in mentoring aspiring female leaders.
Simply put. It takes a village.
And when all is said and done, our impact as women is far greater when we work together as a whole.
As we work together along our respective professional journeys, we can keep conscious of opportunities to connect fellow women with resources in our networks. Resources that will help them make headway in pursuit of a goal, project, or dream job. These referrals can be in the form of someone calling on a friend who has a friend who can make an introduction. There’s also the avenue of promoting the accomplishments of women in your community by featuring them on your social media accounts – spotlighting their amazingness on your post. Giving them a shout out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn – even going the extra mile by writing them a LinkedIn review.
We even see women within our business circles, posting promos for empowering events, TedTalks, industry panels, and more. When coming across these promos, take the time to share their posts and help draw more impressions to the event promo – most notably an event where they’re the featured speaker, event chair, or host. That support often goes further than we realize because we help generate broader awareness with our networks, spotlighting yet another example of showing up in solidarity as women in business.
The power of the sisterhood in business is sharing our integrated networks and resources to the benefit and advancement of fellow women. When we establish a norm for supporting each other, we create a reliable system for female empowerment across every business industry sector.
As women, we have shared experiences that unite us and differences of perspectives that can elevate our collective efforts on teams, boards, and community groups. In each of these business settings, we can seek to celebrate our contributions to work culture, appreciate our unique approaches to life, and stand tall in our savvy abilities to bridge networks and build community connections.
Tasha L. Jones
NOTE: Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.
