Empowering women: small actions for big change in the workplace

By Simone Ahlers, Senior Director of Business Development at The Trade Desk in Hamburg.

Growing up with my mum as a strong female role model and two wild sisters, I’m grateful that for a long time I never thought about being a girl as a disadvantage. I only began to understand the gender gap, structural disadvantages for women, and existing biases at the end of my twenties. Until then, I largely lived in complete ignorance of gender divides.

So quite a few years and experiences later, this International Women's Day is not only a date on the calendar - it’s a powerful call to action!

In the current climate of economic uncertainty, political polarization and ongoing social crisis, inclusion and belonging initiatives often fall behind. At The Trade Desk we are lucky to be guided by our values and supported in our ambitions to drive connection and inclusion across the business. In many organizations, people understandably lack the time and energy required to drive this work.

All of this comes with a huge risk: losing the progress we’ve made for gender equality and new disadvantages coming up for underrepresented groups.

Now, more than ever, it comes down to individuals who are passionate and willing to take action. While there are many ways to drive progress for inclusion and belonging, here I will share my thoughts on how we can empower women to thrive and lead in the workplace through small and simple actions.

1. Bust your own biases:

I know this isn’t new, but it’s important to remember that no matter our background, we have all been socialized in a certain way and have biases. Remembering these biases and catching yourself in the act is the first step to interrupting a negative spiral. Here are some of the biases women have to deal with regularly, ones that I’ve confronted myself:

• Women are often seen as too nice, too emotional, and less assertive than men. These attributes are interpreted as weakness and result in being overlooked for leadership positions.
• In contrast, when women have a strong opinion or are passionate, they are criticized for being too assertive or too emotional. This leads to discreditation of their opinions and perspectives.
• Working mothers are regarded as less committed to their job due to family responsibilities. This even impacts women who don’t have children but are in a childbearing age and results in fewer job or step up opportunities.
• Women's accomplishments are more likely to be attributed to luck, teamwork, or effort, while men's successes are more often attributed to skill and talent. With same results, women are less likely to be promoted.

Let’s practice awareness where we can and stop falling into the trap of these harmful biases.

• Amplify women's voices:

Think of ways you can amplify women’s voices, in your team, in your office, during client meetings, and out in the world:

• Actively involve women to speak up and ask for their opinions.
• Ask your female colleague lead the conversation, panel discussion or presentation.
• Insist on gender balance in your hiring pipelines.

• Act as a mentor or a sponsor:

We all know how important it is to be supported throughout our careers. Having a sponsor who believes in you, opens doors and advocates on your behalf will make a huge difference in your ability to progress. You can both seek out mentors and sponsors as well as act as mentor and sponsor for other women in your organization or network. You can do this on an individual level or take the initiative to build mentorship programs within your organization.

• Help to create an inclusive culture:

On a daily basis, you can engage actively your company culture and work to drive culture and inclusion. You can do so by offering and participating in inclusion events and trainings or simply by acting as a mentor or role model. Speak up and address misbehaviors when you see them, give regular feedback, and share your personal values openly.

These actions can empower others and have a meaningful impact on gender equality and inclusion within your organization. Despite all the noise and distraction out there, don’t forget that small acts, such as being an ally or checking your bias, can make a huge difference for others. Together let’s accelerate action for gender equality!