eGirl Power Pow Wow Workshops: Why We Need Them More Than Ever
It is undeniable that the presence of women in the labor force has increased dramatically over the past decades, jumping from 30.3 million in 1970 to about 73 million from 2006-2010. However, there are still aspects of women in the workplace that have slowed. According to a 2011 report by McKinsey Research, women are taking 53 percent of entry-level management jobs, but after that, the numbers drop increasingly. Thirty-seven percent claim mid-managerial roles while only 26 percent become VP's and higher. What is the cause of this sudden roadblock? While there may be many angles of explanation, one theory remains: women have an increasingly difficult time finding mentors than men do.
Perhaps it's because we live in a day in age where women are as equally progressive as they are swamped (raising children or taking on other family responsibilities). However, it is more necessary than ever to add to our over served plates of responsibilities the obligation of mentorship to young women. As we grow, it is important to take the next generation with us. We must pay it forward.
On April 28th and 29th, eGirl Power did just that. Through a combination of activities and workshop exercises, guest presentations and engaging discussions, the eGirl Power Pow Wow empowered high school girls to build confidence and self-esteem, gain self-awareness and identify and develop leadership characteristics. Mentors Lucia Kaiser, two time Emmy award winning Producer, and Katy Feeney, Senior Vice President of Scheduling and Club Relations for Major League Baseball, proved that success should not only be celebrated, but shared with younger generations of women who can (and will!) continue to push the envelope and feel empowered to reach their full potential.
Here are some of many pieces of advice the high school students took away from their mentor’s at the eGirl Power Pow Wow:
In a world where 70 percent of girls believe they are not good enough or do not measure up in some way, including their performance in school, it is essential that we empower girls to believe the opposite with living proof from real working women like those at the Pow Wow, who have gone above and beyond to achieve their goals.
For those of you reading, no matter how old, I challenge you to break free from the 95 percent of Gen Y women who have never asked for a mentor and challenge you further to find an underclassmen, intern or someone who can use a little extra help to promote women in the generations to come. As Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.”
