Recently, two of our colleagues at Kilpatrick, Erica Da Pian, Head of Marketing, and Liz Lopez, Senior Executive Search Consultant, participated as speakers in a workshop organized by The WIT Network (Women in Tech) Mexico. During this event, they had the opportunity to engage with international realities, exploring crucial topics such as HR equity and female empowerment, especially in tech companies—a historically male-dominated environment. This interaction sparked a deep reflection on the importance of women’s empowerment within companies, highlighting the need for concrete interventions to promote inclusion and gender diversity in the workplace.

In 2024, every respected HR department should seriously consider including policies that promote empowering women in the workplace. This is not just a matter of equity but a fundamental step for social and economic progress. Without the full involvement of women in the workforce, progress remains incomplete.

What is Female Empowerment?

Female empowerment promotes women’s autonomy and decision-making power in all aspects of life, including social, economic, political, and personal areas. It’s not just about improving women’s conditions but also about fortifying their self-esteem and awareness of their capabilities as strong empowered women. This concept encompasses various areas:

1. Education: Access to education allows women to acquire the skills necessary to compete in a still patriarchal labor market. Education not only improves women’s economic conditions but also enables them to become agents of change within society, promoting women’s economic empowerment.
2. Economy: Empowerment manifests through equal opportunities in the labor market, the fight against the gender wage gap, and support for female entrepreneurship and women in business. Economically independent women can make decisions regarding their own lives and those of their families, achieving women financial empowerment.
3. Political Participation: Women must have the ability to influence political decisions and participate in governance processes. Active participation in politics allows women to promote legislative changes that improve living conditions for all women.
4. Legal Rights: Empowerment also involves fighting for rights and protection against gender-based violence. Women must have access to a legal system that protects their rights and prosecutes those who violate them.

The Current Situation

Despite much talk about equity, there is still a lot to be done to achieve gender equality. According to a survey conducted by Unobravo, many companies have yet to implement effective measures to ensure gender diversity. Women, especially women of color, continue to be underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles like C-suite positions, and the gender wage gap remains a widespread reality.

Why is Female Empowerment Important in the Workplace?

Having a diverse team is essential for fostering creativity, innovation, and the ability to effectively respond to the market’s changing needs. Women in management can bring unique perspectives, complementary skills, and a collaborative approach that can enhance business performance and stimulate growth. Leadership diversity is key.

Supporting women in the workplace helps create a more inclusive environment where every employee has the opportunity to develop their potential and be evaluated on a meritocratic basis. This contributes to improving job satisfaction and employee well-being, reducing turnover, and cultivating genuine trust. Empowerment policies that favor women’s advancement and provide leadership opportunities not only attract high-level talent but also improve the company’s reputation and talent retention.

It’s not just about social responsibility but also about economic outcomes. Research shows that companies fostering women’s empowerment tend to:

• Achieve better financial performance
• Be more resilient to crises
• Make fairer and more effective decisions

How to Apply Female Empowerment in the Workplace

A direct method to measure female empowerment is to analyze the representation of women in corporate. This involves not just monitoring the number of female employees but also considering how many hold leadership or decision-making positions. It’s useful, for example, to examine female presence on the board of directors, in managerial roles, or on project teams.

Another indicator is pay equity: if women at work receive equal pay to their male colleagues, it signals significant progress towards economic empowerment of women. To assess this, it’s essential to analyze salaries based on role, experience, and education level, ensuring there are no unjustified disparities. Transparent pay policies are key.

A clear sign of progress is providing equal opportunities for skill development and career advancement. This can be evaluated by monitoring the number of women participating in training programs, leadership courses, or other career development initiatives, promoting the valorization of women’s talents. Addressing the broken rung and ensuring equitable promotion rates is crucial.

If female employees feel valued, satisfied, and happy in the workplace, it is likely that the company is effectively promoting female empowerment. This indicator can be measured through surveys or questionnaires investigating employee satisfaction, including specific questions about gender policy perception and work flexibility. Flexible work options like remote work and hybrid work can help support women’s career ambition.

Using HR software can also be very useful for measuring female empowerment. These systems allow for collecting and analyzing critical data, facilitating the necessary changes. HR software can easily track female representation, pay equity, and participation in training programs, providing a clear and detailed picture of the company’s situation.

The 7 Principles of Female Empowerment

Women’s empowerment is based on seven key principles that guide companies toward promoting gender equality and women’s emancipation in all sectors of society. These principles provide a framework for businesses and institutions, helping to create more equitable and inclusive work environments where women can thrive and contribute fully.

1. Establish Gender Equality in Corporate Leadership: Gender diversity in leadership roles not only promotes equity but also contributes to better business decisions and performance.
2. Treat Men and Women Equally, Respecting the Right to Non-Discrimination: Every individual should have access to the same opportunities, rights, and treatments within the workplace. Pay equity and transparency in compensation policies are fundamental steps to building trust and promoting accountability. Inclusive hiring practices are also essential.
3. Ensure Health, Safety, and Well-Being of Workers, Regardless of Gender: Corporate policies should be designed to prevent injuries and illnesses and promote employees’ psychological well-being. This includes addressing microaggressions and unconscious bias that can negatively impact women, especially women of color.
4. Promote Education, Training, and Personal Development for Women: Companies should commit to providing opportunities for education and professional development, including mentorship programs and refresher courses, to encourage female participation in STEM and other traditionally male-dominated fields. Networking opportunities are also valuable.
5. Implement Entrepreneurial Development, Supply Chain, and Business Practices that Promote Women’s Autonomy: Facilitate women’s access to entrepreneurial opportunities and adopt policies that enhance gender equity, aligning with Goal 5 of the 2030 Agenda.
6. Promote Equity Through Community Initiatives and Advocacy: Support women’s rights and address the structural inequalities that still persist in society, promoting inclusive projects.
7. Measure and Report Progress in Achieving Gender Equality: Evaluate the effectiveness of gender equality policies through data and continuous monitoring, promoting transparency and collaboration among different stakeholders.

Conclusion

Investing in female empowerment is not only an investment in the future of society but also a strategy to ensure long-term business sustainability and success. Promoting social and workplace inclusion, financial emancipation, and socio-economic empowerment pathways for women is crucial to creating an inclusive organizational culture and reducing the gender gap. Companies that embrace these principles not only contribute to creating a fairer society but also position themselves as market leaders, attracting top talent and enhancing their reputation. It’s time to act concretely to support the importance of women empowerment, because only together can we build a better future for everyone.