How Identity Has Influenced A Creator And Founder's Career At The SHE Mark
Sterling, a founder who identifies as a woman, unexpectedly encountered significant gender inequity in a male-dominated field, initially experiencing "setbacks and different treatment." This led to a profound shift in perspective, culminating in the creation of The SHE Mark, which champions gender equity in the workplace, highlighting the importance of researching a company's commitment to gender balance before accepting a position.
Gender Equity in the Workplace, Navigating Male-Dominated Industries, Women in Leadership, Career Advice for Women, Impact of Gender on Career Trajectory
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Sterling Champion
Creator & Founder
The SHE Mark
Tufts University, 2012
N/A
Biology & Related Sciences
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking, Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Entrepreneurship and Business Owner
Disabled
Video Highlights
1. Working in a male-dominated industry, she faced unexpected setbacks and different treatment due to her gender. This experience significantly shaped her perspective on the workplace and fueled her passion for gender equality.
2. She emphasizes the importance of working for a woman who was in a position of power; this experience highlighted the significance of gender equity in the workplace and impacted her career trajectory.
3. She advises students to research companies thoroughly before applying, paying attention to gender equity, the number of women in positions of power, and their level within the company, in addition to other factors like benefits and remote work options. Prioritizing gender equity as a value when considering job offers is crucial for a positive work experience and career growth.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a woman, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
Going into my career, I didn't anticipate how much being a woman would impact how working would look and feel. I particularly chose an industry that is male-dominated, so I worked a lot with men and always worked for men. This was true even if other women were on my team or were interns.
I didn't anticipate how many setbacks or different treatment I would receive just because I am a woman and they are men. That really shaped how I thought. It kind of shaped my view away from what I thought the workplace was going to be like, and I was very shocked to find out what it actually was like.
It wasn't until I worked for my first woman that I realized how important gender equity is in the workplace. This is especially true for women in positions of power, where they can manage other people and be in charge of decision-making, rules, processes, and procedures. My experience of working for a woman after working with so many men kind of blew my mind and changed how I thought the workplace could and should be.
If it weren't for all the experiences I had working with men, which weren't always positive, and then coming into a workplace to work for a woman for the first time, I don't think I would be as passionate as I am right now about having gender equality in the workplace. This is at the core of what my company, eMark, does: highlight companies that practice gender equity.
If I were to give my younger self any advice, it would be that everything you're going through and learning about being a woman in the workplace is going to serve you well in the long run, although it's not going to be enjoyable. If I had to give any advice to anyone watching this, it would be to really do your research on where you're applying to work.
It's totally okay to ask about gender equity at the company. Look at who's on the team. If there are women in positions of power, there's more likely a chance that there's room for you to move up and a path for you to grow at that company, which is really important. Prioritizing that as a value alongside other aspects of the company is also really important.
Keep that in mind when you're applying to jobs, not just what the benefits package looks like or if they do remote work. Really look at how many women are involved and at what level of the company they're involved. Pay attention to that. It could really impact what your work experience is like and your trajectory at that company.