The mission of achieving gender parity, including racial equity, takes daily commitment, year after year. It can be hard to keep thinking someday, someday… But then, just like that, someday becomes today! A day filled with inspiring women and companies that get it is a testament to the effectiveness of this work and the importance of our mission.
I am in awe of the 2024 Paradigm for Parity Women on the Rise. They are a select group of amazing diversity of talent, brilliance, and humanity—and they’re united by a powerful commitment to drive gender parity in the workplace. Hearing from them in their own words about their journeys, including the people along the way who inspired, mentored, sponsored and uplifted them, revealed just what it takes and what it means to be a Woman on the Rise.
I’m amazed not just by the great accomplishments and stature of these women leaders but also by their humility. So many of them credited others for their success and highlighted how important mentorship was on their paths to the Women on the Rise honor. Mentorship showed up in many ways. There is professional support, with one nominee paying tribute to “an executive who took me under her wing, helped me articulate my goals, coached me through my first real development plan, and guided me through various steps in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her mentorship.”
Another nominee expressed gratitude to those who “gave me advice and guidance around the care of young children while I was trying to earn a promotion.” For so many women, it’s crucial to balance the demands of their career with the central needs and joys of family. A powerful network of professional mentors is essential in managing that balance.
Our honorees’ acknowledgment of mentors went beyond their professional connections. One woman credited her mother’s “phenomenal example for my siblings and me, moving here from Jamaica with three kids in tow, one suitcase, and a couple hundred dollars in her wallet. She overcame many obstacles to do so and is the definition of perseverance.” Another nominee identified her spouse’s allyship in her journey: “I want to thank him for the strength, allyship, and unwavering support he gave me when I had to make difficult decisions at crossroads in my career and for sharing in the happiness when I would achieve a goal very important to me. He helps me to grow and to get better.”
I was also struck by the deep impact of family and personal experience on our Women on the Rise. One of our nominees looked further back into her family history, extending gratitude to her late grandfather. “[Although] he never went to college,” she shared, “nonetheless, he was probably the smartest man I have ever known. He had a smart sense of humor and everything he did was grounded in his Christian faith. His unique perspective gave me a better, more positive view on life. He helped me develop a strong work ethic, taught me to always be respectful and kind, but to also be strong and confident.”
Confidence—when it’s true and authentic—is what allows us to be humble. We feel anchored in ourselves and able to express our gratitude to others. The higher great women leaders rise, the more firmly grounded they remain. As one nominee put it: “My belief in myself wouldn’t be possible without the compassionate, ambitious women who’ve challenged and sharpened me along the way, molding me into the best version of myself.” And our cohort, far from simply accepting this laurel and resting on it, are actively committed to passing the gifts of support they have received on to others. “Being recognized as a Woman on the Rise is a call to action to mentor and lift up women,” one woman urged, “so they have the opportunity to excel and make a meaningful impact in their own careers. Seeing people I’ve mentored get promoted into leadership roles and watching many of our team members achieve success that has been life-changing for them has been incredibly rewarding.”
Our Women on the Rise all meet the criteria of Innovation & Creativity that drive success in business. Inclusion and parity also depend on innovation and creativity. It takes vision to see the possibilities for change in the status quo and create equal space for all people and voices. Our nominees are all deeply involved in promoting the professional advancement of women through volunteer work, community causes, board service, and so much more. They are equally committed to achieving excellence in their positions and forging greater diversity in their workplaces—because they understand in their hearts and minds what years of research and data have proven: excellence absolutely depends on gender and racial diversity. One of our nominees shared that “being selected for this award underscores my commitment to driving change and championing other women of color who choose to pursue and excel in leadership roles.” Yes! Leave that ladder for the next person to climb!
So as all of us at Paradigm for Parity roll up our sleeves for another day of breaking down the barriers to gender parity, I am reenergized by our cohort’s heartfelt eloquence in response to receiving the Women on the Rise recognition. They expressed their intelligence, their belief in themselves, in their peers, and in their families, and they spoke with passion and power to the importance of DEI in the workplace. They reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to champion parity for all, both now and in the years to come. And they communicated with both the energy and the gravitas of great leaders. If I were to try to distill their messages into one memorable and powerful phrase, I couldn’t say it better than the Woman on the Rise who counseled: “Be authentic, be vulnerable, seek mentorship and lead with what motivates and inspires you.”
To meet these amazing women and get to know them better, I hope you’ll read the announcement post on our Parity Matters blog.
by Nadine Bullock-Pottinga. The mission of achieving gender parity, including racial equity, takes daily commitment, year after year. It can be hard to keep thinking someday, someday… But then, just like that, someday becomes today! A day filled with inspiring women and companies that get it is a testament to the effectiveness of this work and the Women on the Rise importance of our mission. I am in awe of the 2024 Paradigm for Parity Women on the Rise. They are a select group of amazing diversity of talent, brilliance, and humanity—and they’re united by a powerful commitment to drive gender parity in the workplace. Hearing from them in their own words about their journeys, including the people along the way who inspired, mentored, sponsored and uplifted them, revealed just what it takes and what it means to be a Woman on the Rise. I’m amazed not just by the great accomplishments and stature of these women leaders but also by their humility. So many of them credited others for their success and highlighted how important mentorship was on their paths to the Women on the Rise honor. Mentorship showed up in many ways. There is professional support, with one nominee paying tribute to “an executive who took me under her wing, helped me articulate my goals, coached me through my first real development plan, and guided me through various steps in my career. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her mentorship. Another nominee expressed gratitude to those who “gave me advice and guidance around the care of young children while I was trying to earn a promotion.” For so many women, it’s crucial to balance the demands of their career with the central needs and joys of family. A powerful network of professional mentors is essential in managing that balance. Our honorees’ acknowledgment of mentors went beyond their professional connections. One woman credited her mother’s “phenomenal example for my siblings and me, moving here from Jamaica with three kids in tow, one suitcase, and a couple hundred dollars in her wallet. She overcame many obstacles to do so and is the definition of perseverance.” Another nominee identified her spouse’s allyship in her journey: “I want to thank him for the strength, allyship, and unwavering support he gave me when I had to make difficult decisions at crossroads in my career and for sharing in the happiness when I would achieve a goal very important to me. He helps me to grow and to get better.
