Page 26 - Brandon Sun - 2020 Westman Business

26 THE BRANDON SUN • WESTMAN BUSINESS • NOVEMBER 2020

A look at the modern business woman

When women contribute to the business world, they often bring a fresh perspec-
tive that helps companies to accelerate their growth. Studies have demonstrated NETWORKING RESOURCES
that gender diversity in corporate settings increases productivity and innovation.
What’s more, women tend to bring a more humane leadership style to the ta-
ble, one based on inclusivity and the empowerment of marginalized voices. This Women in business often lack the support and funding that have
open-minded and collaborative attitude has been shown to improve a corporate allowed men to be successful. Here are a few of the business
team’s performance, products and decision-making.
organizations in Canada that offer resources, knowledge and
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME encouragement to women.
Women continue to face numerous challenges in the business world. For one, the • Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (fwe.ca)
wage gap persists with full-time female employees making an average of $0.87 for • Women’s Executive Network (wxnetwork.com)
every dollar earned by men in the same position. This disparity is even wider for
women of colour, Indigenous women and recent immigrants. • Canadian Association of Women Executives & Entrepreneurs
Additionally, women are less likely than men to apply and be considered for man- (cawee.net)
agement roles. Often, this is due to implicit or explicit bias among male employers. • Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (weoc.ca)
Another factor is the persistence of traditional gender roles among many couples,
which leave women disproportionately responsible for childcare and household • Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (canwcc.ca)
tasks. Without a proper support system, it’s difficult for women to strike a balance
and advance in the workplace.
Yet despite these hurdles, many women are thriving in the business world, and
companies, as well as communities, are the better for it.