Creating gender equality: Takeaways

On March 7, 2019, my Collaborative Process Financial Neutral colleague, Nicole Romito, and her business partner, Mary Beth McLean, co-founders of Project Venus at Private Vista, LLC (www.myprivatevista.com) sponsored the third annual breakfast event in honor of International Women's Day.  This event featured three panelists, including attorney and WGN radio personality, Karen Conti (https://www.kcontilaw.com/). 
The panel engaged in an interactive dialogue with the audience on the important topic of "Moving Forward Together: Creating Gender Equality in Your Workplace."  With Nicole’s permission I share here with my ISBA Women and The Law colleagues some of the event takeaways.

Lead by example – the best way to bring out good behavior in others is to model it yourself.

• Act appropriately and treat others with respect. Apply the Golden Rule.
• Make a conscious effort to be inclusive. Here are some ways to do that:
  • Assemble people with diverse backgrounds for company/firm committees and work projects.
  • Create an environment that is open and encourages employees to address the issue with one another.
  • Encourage equitable participation among all attendees at work meetings.
  • Control work meetings to avoid one person dominating the discussion.
  • Recognize the person who raises a good point and/or makes a significant contribution to the discussion.
  • Give credit where credit is due – don’t minimize the value of any individual’s contribution to the group.

Never underestimate the power of mentoring.

• Launch a mentoring program that has a defined structure and company-wide (firm-wide) commitment.
• Highlight the importance of the program at company/firm events and in communications.
• Develop an atmosphere of trust to promote open dialogue between mentor and mentees.

Find your voice.

• Negotiate when you feel that you deserve a better salary or larger bonus.
• Bring examples of where you have added value to the firm, team, company.
• Research pay standards and benefits for your job in your industry.

Continue the conversation about equality across all lines, among men and women.

• Understand the dynamics of your work place and what is acceptable.
• Remember that inequality applies not just to gender – but also age, race, and religion.
• Review the employee handbook to learn how to handle uncomfortable situations.
• Talk amongst yourselves! Keep the issue at the forefront with honest, but polite, debate.

My personal takeaway and continued commitment for 2019-20 is around mentoring.  Within the ISBA community, we are so very luck to already have a structured mentoring program (learn more at https://www.isba.org/newlawyers/mentoring).  Having been a mentor for several years now within this program, both to female and male mentees, has allowed me to “find my voice” and help others find theirs.  Mentoring also provides a readymade forum for learning to “lead by example”.  Checking those boxes has lead to a solid sense of accomplishment and career satisfaction.   Not to mention earning CLE credit in way that differs from the run-of-the-mill type programing.  

Thanks much Nicole and Mary Beth and Project Venus.  Already looking forward to International Women’s Day 2020!