Career Events
The Problem: There is not enough Media Representation for Girls in Leadership and Organizations Championing Female Empowerment
Women represent 58.4% of the US workforce as of September 2022 but only held 35% of senior leadership positions. Only 8.8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and less than 1% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women of color. According to a study done by the World Economic Forum, this percentage is especially low in industries where women are traditionally underrepresented (such as STEM and business fields).
Our Solution #1: Host Accessible Online Events Sharing Stories of Successful Women
We believe that the best way to encourage women in leadership is through using digital communities to share stories about powerful women and organizations pushing for change. Our career events (held in 2020-2022) had the purpose of serving as an online, accessible resource for young women interested in learning from c-suite women leading in fields where they are under-represented. These included virtual panels, talks, conferences, and pitch competitions that strived to empower women with the confidence and tools necessary to navigate through their individual career paths while supporting their independent development and promoting economic empowerment. We provide young people with the programs, support and inclusive community they need to thrive as changemakers.
GWS career journey = inspire + prepare Inspire: Part of our career journey program is to introduce students to different potential careers and opportunities, thus inspiring them to dream big. learning: our career program exposes students to a variety of career options. They have the chance to learn about different careers that align with their interests and skills, so they can start to narrow down what careers to pursue in the future. Understanding: Our career programs provide an interactive and dynamic learning experience, “where students can ask questions directly to professionals and presenters can invite students to tackle real-world problems” (source: explore learning). Connecting: “Students don’t just learn from their teachers. Community members and leaders can play a vital role in a student’s education. Career Day provides a platform where students can directly interact with members of their community. Having a diverse group of presenters allows students to see themselves represented in different career paths. Presenters can serve as role models or mentors for students” (Source: Explore Learning). Source: Explore Learning Prepare: Our career journey days also serve to provide professional tips and tricks for students to achieve their dreams and set a career path for themselves that would lead to success. We would teach students how to network, find connections, build a resume, advocate for themselves, and discover opportunities. We would also teach them life skills, including the importance of hard work, setting goals, mentorship, setting routines, self-improvement, etc.