Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative

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Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative

Last week I attended the Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative Conference at the Georgia Aquarium. What’s that you ask? Womenetics is a one day conference that explores women’s roles in the workplace. The panel was filled with successful business women, and a few men discussing real issues like gender equality, race, and the decisions women must make when it comes to their family and the workplace. Since I left my office job in 2006, I wasn’t aware of the many issues that women were still facing while climbing the ladder to success. Womenetics encouraged the women in attendance to create the change they wanted to see in the workplace. 

There were three panels. The first was “Obstacles: Sticky Floor, Glass Ceiling or Brick Wall?” This panel was actually my favorite. The speakers were  Mindy Planer,  Camry Blaising, Arlene Johnson, and Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall. Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall is the founding director of the Women’s Research and Resource Center at Spelman College and Professor of Women’s Studies at both Spelman and Emory University. Dr. Sheftall actually pointed out the elephant in the room and raised some real concerns about race and women in the workplace that still exist today. 

The next panel was “Presto, Chango – Creating Gender Balance” presented by Steve Proudman, Karen Rubin, and Nancy Wolk. Women are the largest consumers, so it only makes sense for us to be more represented in the businesses that we purchase from. When women are in those management positions, the return on equity is higher for that company. We still have a place in business even after starting families, because we can create change. 

The last panel was “The Great Wallendas Of (Gender) Balance – Corporate Success Stories” presented by Della Sabessar. Suzanna (Sue) Sears, Gail Becker, and Pernille Spiers-Lopez. These ladies were real life examples of success in Fortune 500 companies. They touched on how women can make being a working mother work. Companies are beginning to understand that women have a role to play in their homes, but they also realize that they are a vital part to making their business work. 

I really enjoyed the dialogue presented at the Womenetics Global Women’s Initiative. I was happy someone from the audience also mentioned entrepreneurship as a viable option for moms like me, deciding not to return to the workplace after having children. We all have individual decisions to make as wives and mothers. We don’t want to have to choose between our families and a job. We have to find and build support systems of other like minded women so we can all reach our goals. 

To keep the conversation about gender equality, race, and women’s advancement in business going, visit Womenetics, or find them on Twitter & Facebook!

Have you had to make hard decisions between your job and family?

Ashley