How Would You Like an Extra Million Dollars?

Issue 194 — March 21, 2022

That’s a no-brainer, right? But I’m serious. Studies have shown that women lose between $400,000 and over $1,000,000 cumulatively over a lifetime of work in comparison with men in equal jobs with equal experience. You deserve to be paid fairly and equally to others with your qualifications.

Equal Pay Day was March 15 this year. Saying that women make on average 83 cents to men’s $1 is an oversimplification because there are huge variances based on race and ethnicity.

But one thing is sure, women need to pay attention to what’s in their paychecks and advocate for both policies and individual fairness. Because this issue isn’t only about what’s in your current paycheck.

[You might be interested in the podcast I did with financial and wealth experts Stacey Tisdale and Sonya Smith-Valentine on why it’s so important for women to get paid fairly and think long-term about their financial health.]

With all that in mind, let me introduce you to two women who have made advances for equal pay on behalf of all of us.

Two women who have made history:

After admiring her work with Salesforce on behalf of pay parity from afar for several years, I finally met Cindy Guerra Robbins in person when we both spoke at The Riveter conference in New York in November, 2019. After that I interviewed her for my book Intentioning and referenced her story in the chapter that talks about movement building,“It’s About You But It’s Not Just About You.” Cindy worked collaboratively with another Salesforce executive Leyla Seka to present the case to Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff so that he could see the gender pay gap in the data and rectify it.

I first met Lilly Ledbetter before her name had become a household word. This picture was taken at an AAUW event in 2006 focusing on the gender pay gap when Lilly was in the midst of her lawsuit; the suit was against the Goodyear Tire and Rubber company where she had worked for over 30 years, after learning that male colleagues in the same role earned substantially more than she did. Her tenacity ultimately became enshrined in the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and was the first bill signed by President Barack Obama.

You can hear both of their remarkable stories by joining us March 24 at 3pm eastern on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter when I will have the pleasure of interviewing both of them live. You will be able to chat in your questions. (Find us by searching for me @GloriaFeldt. You can join us live or watch after the fact.)

Lilly pursued the goal of equal pay in the courts and public policy. Cindy pursued it via corporate policy. Both strategies are necessary and prove the point that things don’t just happen; people make them happen systematically. That’s how a movement works. A movement doesn’t have to be big or loud. But it does have to have one clear characteristic: the intention that what you are doing is larger than yourself.

Drop your story of getting the pay you deserve [or not] in the comments.

And if you have a feeling you aren’t there yet, why not enroll in the 9 Leadership Power Tools to Advance Your Career online course and learn the ways you can get clear about your value and how to advocate for yourself to get equal pay, power, and positions.

Don’t leave $400,000 to $1,000,000 on someone else’s table if you have rightfully earned it.

Remember that now through March 31, in honor of Women’s History Month, get $100 off the price of this course that many women describe as “life changing” and “jet fuel for my career.” Use the code WHM22 to claim your discount and start defining the next chapter of your life. You can take the Career Boost plan of the course on your own. Or you can take the Career Accelerator plan that includes four masterminds with me, Gloria Feldt, or be a VIP and get all that plus group coaching.

Hurry though, this discount won’t last. But the impact on your life and career will!

Click here to enroll in the 9 Leadership Power Tools to Advance Your Career course.

GLORIA FELDT is the Cofounder and President of Take The Lead, a motivational speaker and expert women’s leadership developer for companies that want to build gender balance, and a bestselling author of five books, most recently Intentioning: Sex, Power, Pandemics, and How Women Will Take The Lead for (Everyone’s) Good. Her signature 9 Leadership Power Tools to Advance Your Career online course is described as “life changing” and “jet fuel for my career” by participants. Former President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, she teaches “Women, Power, and Leadership” at Arizona State University and is a frequent media commentator. Learn more at www.gloriafeldt.com and www.taketheleadwomen.com. Tweet Gloria Feldt.