3 women from VGD about inclusive business
May 26, 2023
How to create an inclusive business? Business may be harsh for women. We have no doubts about it, talking everyday to female managers. Their experiences from different corners of the world, from small and large companies, clearly demonstrate that women are still disregarded, underestimated and overlooked on the path to promotion. These words are strong, but not stronger than power used by women to break through glass ceilings. They do not all stay down, looking up only through the glass. 90% of our employees are women. 3 of them will tell you today how to be a female manager in a world that discriminates on the basis of gender.
VGD is dominated by women when it comes to the number of employees. Is working in a mostly female environment a challenge on a daily basis?
Jolanta Rustecki (HR Manager): I perceive working in a female environment as an asset of our company. Of course, women are more emotional, but by expressing their feelings, they are able to articulate their needs more easily and are not afraid to talk about them out loud.
Róża Śleszyńska (Manager of Payroll Department): I do not think it is a challenge, but rather something natural. Ever since we were children, we have been creating something like circles of acquaintances or friends, in which girls are usually attracted to girls, and boys to other boys. We feel good in the company of people of the same sex with whom we share similar interests and experiences. Sometimes it is hard to open up to someone of another sex. As we are getting old, this changes a bit and we mingle more often in company. However, it is good to have people of different gender in your group to get to know their point of view on various matters, how they approach a given topic or how other people can understand a given issue.
What patterns have you noticed over the years in the way women work? What could they do better to advance their careers?
Michaela Martinek (Managing General Partner): I have come across a lot of female leaders working in (stereotypically) masculine fields such as manufacturing and construction who were very tough leaders. At the same time, however, they displayed micromanaging behavior: they were unwilling or simply afraid to delegate tasks. I recommend giving up controlling every aspect of your business. Being in a managerial position, you can forget yourself and drown in a sea of responsibilities that should be delegated to someone else. After all, that is why we hire specialists – to help them mature to work independently, while allowing them to complete the team’s tasks on time.
Have you had any difficulties in your career because of your gender?
RŚ: I do not recall anything like that. Maybe because I work in a female-dominated environment and I have not had the opportunity to experience problems or difficulties resulting from being a woman.
MM: Yes, unfortunately I have experienced difficulties in every previous company because of my gender. All of these companies were large, multinational corporations. My promotion attempts have been rejected many times and things have been made clear: I cannot be promoted as a woman because of potential motherhood on the horizon that would be a problem and a threat to the company.
Why should companies hire more women in positions of power? What would be the benefits?
RŚ: I am convinced that women have an instinct in their nature. The instinct can have different forms – both maternal and professional. Women often treat enterprises they supervise as their children. So they want everything to be successful and refined in detail. I have the impression that companies will be more “taken care of” if they are headed by women. But sometimes a firm hand may be needed, and I am not convinced if every woman could use it. Therefore, you should also have men in your team who could help in such a situation.
Are there any specific women who have inspired you? Why?
RŚ: I think that my first and most important mentor was, and still is, my Mom. It was thanks to her that I initially became interested in accounting and after a few years of work I held one of the most important positions in a certain company where I was employed. I remember that as a small child I liked stamping and organizing documents when I went with her to the office, for example on weekends, when she had a lot of work. I still admire her for the strength she has and uses every day in her work.
Why is gender balance and a more diverse team important? Where does it all begin – already during our childhood – looking at Róża’s statement?
JR: Indeed, as children, we had to deal with gender imbalance, which we were completely unaware of at that time. We accept this and begin to treat both sexes with some “privileges”. Therefore, it is up to parents and carers how children perceive the gender balance as adults. From an early age, we should inculcate the principle that “professions have no gender” and not assign gender to particular social roles. Both being a woman and a man have strengths and is related to some skills. It is thanks to them, and not thanks to our gender, that a machine, such as a company, starts to work at the right speed. Moreover, diverse teams have access to greater volumes of experience and skills. They are also open to new ideas. Therefore, regardless of the situation, place or caliber of a given problem, we should pay attention to moments from our lives and when we see a problem with the lack of equality – let’s react!
How can women support other women in their companies and organizations?
RŚ: First of all, listen. Maybe not everything can be done the way some people want it to be, but you should definitely listen to a women’s speech. In addition, women with more knowledge or experience should share them with those who are just starting their professional adventure. I know that it is not always easy due to the fear of being replaced by the mentee, but we must take into account that this is the way things are and someday it will certainly happen.
MM: I will answer this question as a female boss. My goal was to create a company and working conditions that I would like to experience myself as an employee. I hope it achieved that. At the moment, we have very flexible working hours and the possibility of remote work, as well as a positive approach to childcare in combination with work. We have created a place for children to play and learn in our office. At the same time, we support the professional development of our employees in the form of training and co-financing of education. We are open to all nationalities. Religion, belonging to LGBTQ+, or other premises that risk discriminatory behavior are your private business. We evaluate employees in terms of their skills and performance at work. A workplace that cares about the comfort of employees is a space where professional and private life form a coherent whole. I personally also took advantage of flexible working hours two years ago when I was pregnant. This allowed me to quickly return to full business capacity after 2 months from the birth of my son.
Tags dykryminacja kobiet, inkluzywny biznes, kobiety na kierowniczych stanowiskach, różnorodność
