Women’s History Month | An Interview with iCIMS CMO, Susan Vitale
We’ve seen some exciting advancements for women recently in the news—dating app Bumble went public with the youngest ever female CEO and a board made up of 70% women and Roz Brewer has moved to Walgreens to be the only black female CEO in the Fortune 500. What does this representation mean for women?
2) Frances Perkins, the first woman to serve in the US cabinet (the Secretary of Labor under FDR and the longest-serving Secretary of Labor in US history). Many people think of FDR when they think of The New Deal, but fewer people know that Perkins was a primary architect and a key advocate of some most important programs that made up the New Deal, like the Fair Labor Standards Act and Social Security. I have read and thought a lot about her as we are working to get ourselves out of the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, and think we could learn a lot from how she navigated the challenges of the Great Depression and championed the policies that ultimately pulled the US economy out of that crisis.
It took me some time to understand the importance of having a dedicated period like Women’s History Month, but I’ve learned that looking back on history is so important not only to see how far we’ve come, but also where we’re at risk of repeating the same mistakes. There’s certainly a good deal to celebrate in terms of women’s progress, but we also need dedicated time to focus on and amplify women’s voices—and to hold our leadership in business and politics accountable.
For allies, how can they better support women through these changing times? What is the impact that allyship can have on women’s advancement?
To celebrate the “history” part of Womens History Month—is there a woman from history that you find especially inspiring
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
Katy Kappler: One of the things that I love about Womens History Month is the ability to look back and recognize the innovations and ideas that came from women in our history. We have a tendency to forget that a lot of the opportunities we have today have been laid by the women that came up before us. Women that worked in far more difficult times and whose contributions were often overlooked or not documented very well because it was such a male-dominated narrative. The people that my kids and I have been talking about are Elizabeth Blackwell, who was the first female physician in the United States. And Katherine Johnson, who now a lot of people know because of the movie Hidden Figures, but whose work at NASA, ostensibly put a man on the moon. Recognizing their work and realizing that they accomplished all of this at a time when it was so hard for women to get a seat at the table did not prevent them from pursuing their passions and making these transformational changes in peoples lives. It is very inspiring.
Ana Hernandez: For me, its more about women today in a lot of respects. Its fantastic that the women before us were trailblazers, but the fact is we still need trailblazing women. There are still many areas where women are not at the level that men are. And I think it not only shines a light on the history of women but also all the work that were still doing and still continue to need to do.
Create your family history with your mother, your grandmother, and your aunts (bring your tape recorder or video camera!)
Celebrating Women During Women’s History Month—A Roundup
We celebrate women year-round. Here are some of our favorite articles—by in-house team members, our amazing contributors, and other women-focused media sites we love. It’s difficult to pick our favorite content from women around here—there is an abundance of gold. Women’s History Month is about celebrating women all over the world. It’s about celebrating the huge strides women have made (and are making) in politics, literature, the arts, social justice, science, math, technology, at home and all across the board. This Womens History Month, please enjoy some of our favorites—about women in the workplace, women at home, women transitioning through careers, and women generally navigating life (like bosses.)
FAQ
What questions can be asked on women’s Day?
- Do you experience resistance when you are leading men? …
- How can women “work across the divides” of opinions?
- How can I be powerful without alienating people or upsetting them? …
- How can women navigate power structures?
How do you honor women’s history month at work?
- What does IWD mean to you? …
- How would you address the cultural issues that form the background of the gender pay gap? …
- What are the most effective ways to counteract the negative stereotypes of feminism, especially in the workplace?
How do you explain women’s history month?
- Ask All To Wear Purple. Internationally, purple is a color for symbolizing women. …
- Reward Them. …
- Team Outing. …
- Introduce Family-Friendly Work-Life Balance Policies. …
- Launch An Initiative For Women’s Empowerment. …
- Applaud Them On Social Media. …
- Listen To Innovate.
