How Women Thrive & Rise: It All Starts With Fixing the First Broken Rung
According to the 2019 Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.org, the glass ceiling is not the biggest obstacle women face in the workplace. Instead, the major challenge comes right at the start, at the 'broken rung.' According to the report, entry-level women are 18% less likely to receive promotions than their male colleagues, which has a significant impact on the gender talent gap at senior management levels. Women are not receiving the guidance and support they need early in their careers, and the data proves it. Millennial women, especially, are looking for a clear career path and ongoing skill development. When it comes to gender inclusion, diversity and the advancement of women, companies need to look at different approaches that meet women where they are. We must change the trajectory for women at work through innovative programs that identify, place and support the development of women in the workplace at all ages and stages of their careers.
Learning Objectives:
Focus on retention early with multiple layers of support.
Build communities and peer-to-peer networks across all levels with new tools.
Invest in leadership potential in creative ways by arming women with the tools, training and support they need to grow into the next generation of leaders.
Addie Swartz
As CEO of reacHIRE, Addie works with Fortune 500 companies and talent innovators to drive higher engagement and lower attrition of women across organizations. From return-to-work programs with industry leaders including Fidelity, Wayfair, Deloitte and T-Mobile, to the cutting edge Aurora digital platform for early career professionals, Addie is a leading voice on how to support and advance professional women at all levels of the workforce.
The Aurora platform is designed to help companies engage and retain women early. With Aurora, women no longer have to go it alone, instead connecting virtually with a community of peers and experienced Guides to help them successfully navigate work challenges, celebrate successes and reach new heights personally and professionally. Setting goals, achieving wins, and learning and sharing real-life stories are all part of the Aurora experience.
Prior to reacHIRE, Addie founded two companies committed to helping women realize their potential. The Beacon Street Girls® brand provided positive role models for tween girls, while BrightIdeas® was the first company to leverage a stay-at-home-mom salesforce.
Addie serves as Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Women in Leadership Council, an initiative dedicated to best practices in recruiting, retaining & promoting women into leadership roles.
Addie is a graduate of Stanford University and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Olga Feingold
Olga Feingold is passionate about leading with integrity and creating a more just and equitable world. For the past decade she has worked with students, school officials, educators, executives, managers and federal leadership to create a more equitable nation. Her background in facilitation, training and coaching has spanned across roles in non-profit, finance, bio-pharmaceutical and technology. She is currently the Talent Development Partner at Analog Devices and leads the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.