As the #metoo movement took center stage, companies began to look at their staff and internal company culture. Take a look around your office. How many women do you see? How many of them are in executive roles or leadership positions? In corporate America, you most likely see an imbalance. But that’s changing.
The Shift
I was having dinner with my mom right after the Weinstein story broke, chatting about my job. I was explaining what a WBENC certification was (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council), how most of Atrium’s executives are women, and how empowering that is to see. She was so impressed, but also surprised. For her, a female CEO seemed like one in a million, but in response to #metoo and #timesup, Diversity & Inclusion initiatives have shifted.
According to a February survey of more than 1,300 recruiters nationwide conducted by the Boston recruiting marketplace Scout Exchange, 80 percent of recruiters said they had seen an increase in the number of requests for female executives over the previous 12 months. Since October, when the Weinstein scandal broke, there has been a 41 percent jump in cases in which women have beat out men for executive-level jobs, according to Scout’s analysis of thousands of hires during that time period. – The Boston Globe
Moving Forward
We’ve already witnessed big names like Revlon and the New York Stock Exchange make history in the last month, putting women at the helm for the first time ever. But the problem of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the workplace is far from over. However, when companies turn to their female employees for help, the more inclusive their company will become.
