The power of a woman's voice is immeasurable. Throughout history, women like Maya Angelou, Susan B. Anthony, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Malala Yousafzai have used their voices to speak out against issues affecting women and advocate for change. And yet, women, who make up over half of the world's population, still struggle with having their voices heard.
For example, after giving birth to her first child, tennis superstar Serena Williams felt shortness of breath and began to lose sensation in her legs. She reported the symptoms to her nurse, who told Serena that it was probably the medication from her C-section delivery and not to worry about it. She spoke up again, asking for the doctors to look into it. Although the hospital staff did not seem overly concerned, they finally administered a test to check for blood clots. The results revealed that an immediate surgery was required to prevent the blood clot from reaching her lungs. Serena saved her own life. And although she spoke up, nobody listened at first.
However, the power of a woman's voice is not limited to famous or historical figures. Women all around the world are using their voices every day to effect change in their families, communities, and workplaces. Women are making their voices heard through political activism, community organizing, or simply sharing their perspectives and stories.
Here are a few insights into why it is critical, from a global perspective, to empower women to use their voices:
Women make up 47% of the global workforce, but only 28% of managerial positions are held by women.
Women hold only 7.4% of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies.
Women are paid less than men in most countries. In 2020, the global gender pay gap was estimated at 16%.
Women are less likely to have access to leadership development programs than their counterparts.
Women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Women are also underrepresented in politics, holding only 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide.
Understanding these facts can help guide society in making more intentional and effective decisions, especially in the workplace.
I often ask myself, 'What can we do in aviation to better support women?” After several conversations at conferences, events, and through the AVIATE Platform, I recognized that some of the low-hanging fruit of supporting women are the following:
Give women a platform or space to share their thoughts and ideas.
Listen to a woman when they expresses themselves.
Ask open-ended questions for a better understanding.
Support other women who speak up.
These simple steps can make a big difference and are a great start to shifting the culture of women in the workplace.
"Every woman's success should be an inspiration to another. We're strongest when we cheer each other on."- Serena Williams
Our guest this week on the AVIATE with Shaesta podcast is Laura Brody Heltebran. Laura received a Bachelor's and a Doctor of Law from George Mason University. She serves as a C-suite executive at Wheels Up, serving as the Chief Legal Officer.
During her free time, Laura takes flight lessons and works towards her Private Pilot License. Heltebran has worked with and represented Fortune 500 companies, including The Coca-Cola Company, Time Warner, Xerox, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and Hilton Worldwide. With her remarkable career, Laura offers her professional perspective on the power of a woman's voice.
Laura, welcome!
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A special thank you to Atlantic Aviation for sponsoring our podcast and providing these critical conversations and insights to the industry. We appreciate your partnership.
