“Well that’s just wrong. They better have that fixed by the time I grow up or I’m going to have to go be president.”
That was my 7-year-old daughter’s reaction when I explained to her what the Equal Pay Day event I was going to was all about.
It really is kind of amazing that in the year 2018 we still haven’t sorted this out, and I have to admit, it was pretty disheartening to see Louisiana’s rankings in not only equal pay, but other issues important to women in this state — from multiple sources.
It’s obvious that this is far from just a women’s issue. How can we expect to be successful as a state if half of our population is being left behind?
What really struck me, though, is learning that enabling women to rise to the top in business — by offering mentorship opportunities, providing affordable childcare, bridging that funding gap for female entrepreneurs, etc. — is not just right, it’s been shown time and time again to make companies more profitable. The data proves it, and companies like ThirtyNorth Investments and Shell and Lucid are already reaping the benefits. Is yours?
On that note, one thing we did not do in this issue — partly due to lack of space — is lay out a plan for companies who want to do better by their female employees, who want to see more equity in their leadership. In addition to encouraging you to reach out to the best practices companies we introduce within these pages, there is also a book on this exact subject that I learned about at this year’s ABWA’s Equal Pay Day event called “Money on the Table: How to Increase Profits Through Gender-Balanced Leadership.” On the author’s website, MelissaGreenwell.com, she also offers a 10-step action plan anyone can download for free.
Higher profits, stronger leadership, better company morale, easier recruitment — there’s no downside here, and no longer any excuses. We can, and must, do better.
Happy Reading!
Managing Editor
Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com
