We love you Sallie Krawcheck! Read her Linkedin story about how “bro” culture on Wall Street is harmful to women climbing the ladder of success. This is an issue that is not particular to Wall Street; Being inhospitable to women is not only about “bro talk,” it is about unnecessary 6pm meetings, weekend deadlines and pervasive desk check culture. When companies don’t make work work for women, they lose women, and then they complain about diversity. The real issue here is, if companies don’t change women flee, then fewer women rise to the top, and without women at the top nobody is taking our needs and thoughts into account; and the world remains a place that has no cup holders in cars, life rafts or caller I.D. (all invented by and for women.)
So why is it so hard for businesses to get it? They talk about it a lot… they hold a lot of meetings at 6pm to discuss it, they have conferences about it, and speak on panels about it… here is what Sallie has to say.
“To the CEOs: Wall Street simply needs to bring more women and diverse individuals into the business. Just friggin’ do it. I promise you, the solution isn’t more training sessions on unconscious bias or a new diversity group, though they are nice. It’s not another speech at the annual townhall on how important diversity is. It’s to just hire more women.”
The Second Shift was founded to provide flexible opportunities for women who leave the traditional workforce so they can continue along their professional career paths. Our vetted network of members are women who recently left the workforce at the top of their game; by hiring them companies increase gender diversity in their workplace and create a nimble and progressive work force. It’s a win/win for everyone. It is not a mystery why women leave and it is not a mystery how to retain them… so stop talking about it and just do it!