The Power To Have 2024 Be The Year Women Achieve More Leadership Roles

Rosina Racioppi is President & CEO of WOMEN Unlimited.

By Rosina Racioppi

Since I entered the workforce more than 30 years ago, I have seen the number of women in leadership roles increase tremendously, but it’s still not enough. As managers and mentors, what can we do to encourage our female employees to grow and step into more influential roles? 

As managers, we play an important role in coaching female employees as they prepare to express concerns or ideas to foster success, helping them understand how to position ideas to be heard. We can support them by taking their ideas and putting them into action. This approach encourages women to contribute insights and enables them to see their company values them.

Today, women at the director level leave at a higher rate than in previous years and a notably higher rate than men. This trend has come to be known as the “Great Breakup” due to workplace culture issues, gender bias, and lack of growth opportunities. This highlights the need for companies to provide more resources for women to help them succeed, including leadership development programs, flexibility, and leave policies.

While companies have developed mentorship and career growth programs, tailoring them specifically toward women's career advancement is crucial. By providing pathways to leadership positions and ensuring opportunity for professional development - we can give women the tools to achieve leadership roles within the organization.

Additionally, recognizing signs of burnout is one of the most important aspects of supporting women. Women in middle management often face the heaviest workloads and stress. That is why they benefit from flexible work schedules, supportive parental leave policies, and a clear pathway to reach their career goals. In this way, female employees are less likely to experience burnout and can contribute more to the organization. 

Let’s make 2024 the year women are empowered to achieve leadership positions.

Rosina Racioppi is President & CEO of WOMEN Unlimited. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-rosina-racioppi-792b941/ ; https://www.women-unlimited.com/