A MESSAGE FOR EMPOWERMENT: LETTING WOMEN BE WOMEN AT WORK

A few weeks ago, our amazing and relatively new-to-us VP came in about five minutes late for a scheduled remote meeting with over 200 people from our department at work and as soon as she joined in, she immediately got on video and apologized for being late. She did so very genuinely, and she shared with all of us, that her middle-school aged daughter had just returned from school and seemed upset about something. She felt the need to take a few minutes to talk to her daughter, make sure that she was fine and only then return to her work commitments.

To see her embrace being a mother first by putting her daughter’s needs above everything else, even if it was just for those five minutes, I felt a sense of relief, pride & empowerment altogether. A sense of relief because I know that I would have done the same, only without the large-scale public admission of my priorities. A sense of pride because I get to work with leaders like her who set a great example and motivate women to be mothers, wives and daughters alongside being leaders at big companies. The feeling of empowerment came from her actions and knowing that it's ok for me to do it if I ever need to and it'll be fine after all! 🤗

I'm unsure if she is aware of the positive impact her small action had on me, or many other women (and men), that were present on the call that day. So, let this serve as an example that through small actions, in which we fearlessly stand up for our values, we go beyond just defending our values and also empower others who look up to us to defend theirs!

More power to women! 💪🏼