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Celebrating International Women’s Day

03/08/2022

International Women’s Day began in the early 1910s to honor and reflect on the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Since the initial celebration, International Women’s Day has grown into a global event and, here at Sendero, now serves as a catalyst for important conversations about what it means to be a woman in the workplace.

We sat down with Managing Director Susanne Turnbo, Senior Manager Liya Getachew, Manager Alex Hill, and Analyst Erynn Conde to hear their perspectives.

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What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

LIYA: International Women’s Day gives us an occasion to reflect on women’s movements across the world, honor the advancements that have been made, and look forward to the additional work that needs to be done.

ERYNN: It honors the women who fought and protested decades ago for my place in the classroom, in the workplace, and in society at large. It recognizes the women who are continuing that work today, and it empowers future generations of women to reap the benefits of and continue those efforts. I’m reminded of a quote from Maya Angelou which more eloquently illustrates that point saying, “I come as one, but I stand as 10,000.” Women share an experience that binds and uplifts us, and International Women’s Day reminds me of that!

What are some of the current challenges facing women in leadership and the workplace?

SUSANNE: The mental burden. Women often take a primary role in managing the home and family. I think this happens for two reasons: first, often we want this and are good at it and second, societal norms push our families in this direction. Regardless of what puts us there, I have a hard time articulating the true weight of the mental burden that comes with this role. But it’s real, and it’s exhausting. It’s also an honor and a privilege.

LIYA: The challenges women experience aren’t always apparent or given recognition. For example, many women in the workplace have observed — and studies have shown — that women often do not get the same level of recognition as men for similar work. In the moment, this can be difficult to identify and call out, but aggregated over time, it leads to disproportionate rates of advancement, which results in an additional challenge: a lack of representation in leadership.

What advice do you have for women as they develop long-term career plans?

SUSANNE: I have three main pieces of advice for women developing their career plans.

1. Take it one day at a time. You will drive yourself insane if you try to plan and solve for every challenge that lies ahead before you get there. This was especially true for me after having kids; I found myself trying to figure out summer care plans for elementary school when my child was barely one year old.

2. Invest in yourself. If you want to have a long career, you need to take time out occasionally to nurture it. There’s no one way to do this, but I would focus on doing things that help you learn, find inspiration, and identify new perspectives.

3. Seek comradery. When you are doing hard things, seek out people with similar circumstances or who have the context to understand.

ALEX: Tap into your own instincts as you approach problems in the workplace. At least for me, as a mother and woman, I have a natural desire to empathize with others and build an understanding, trusting environment. I know many men that have these qualities as well, but as a woman in the workplace, it can be intimidating to show our “soft” side in fear that we’ll lose the respect or clout of our male counterparts. But I believe that when we let that “soft” side shine, it results in a collaborative and cohesive team environment.

Trust that your perspective may be different than your male counterpart but of equal value. Trust that you can be direct and firm without losing your ability to be empathetic and gentle in your approach to conflict. Trust that the piece you bring to the table as a woman in the workplace completes the puzzle of a high functioning team.

What has you most excited about the future?

ALEX: Women are many things: daughters, sisters, mothers, spouses, co-workers, friends — it takes a special kind of person to wear multiple hats in their personal and work lives simultaneously. I’m excited to raise a little girl in a world where women are celebrated and appreciated for all they do at home and at work. My daughter will learn that she can be all of those things (a CIO, a mother, or both) if she chooses to be, and that is an exciting reality for her to live in!

ERYNN: What most excites me about the future is seeing women continue to take on “firsts” and expand female representation across all fronts — the first woman Vice President of the United States being just one recent example. It’s inspiring to see young girls finding their voice in activism, sports, and academic achievements. I’ve seen the rhetoric and attitudes towards women as leaders shift drastically in my lifetime, so I can only imagine and look forward to how much progress will be made in the years to come!

Are there any additional thoughts you would like to share?

SUSANNE: I attended a women’s conference recently where a working mother summed it up so well. She said, “Before the pandemic we used to act like we didn’t have kids at work, and now we do.” Whether you have kids or not, I think we all feel more compelled to bring our whole selves to work.

LIYA: International Women’s Day embodies how the forum for discussion on issues that impact women has broadened. It has crossed nations, races, classes, and brings everyone (not just women) into the conversation. Though there is always room to move the dialogue forward and provide a better platform for segments of the women’s movement that are not always at the center of attention, the strides that have been made in the last few years are highly encouraging.

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We look forward to continuing the conversation about the role women play in and out of the office — as leaders, colleagues, friends, mothers, and mentors; and the ways we can continue to ensure that every employee is supported.

We invite you to read more about Who We Are and get an inside look at the guiding principles and core values that unite Sendero.

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