(888) 893-2165Enjoy the notes below on Women’s Equality Day. Kelly Williams tells her story of overcoming the adversity of being a woman in sales, and why JumpCrew is a refreshing change. Next, Molly Albrecht writes about how self-love is the first step to gaining the strength to take up space.
Being A Woman In Sales
Today is Women’s Equality Day.
I’ve had the blessing and fortune to look back on my business career, and reflect on what my experiences have been; the struggles I’ve survived, and my tempered optimism about the future.
The constant and persistent anchor along the way has been building a tribe of women for support, feedback, and advice. We’ve been there for each other through the evolution of cultural and technological iterations of business as it has transformed from an analog to digital world.
Additionally, what has served me too is finding and using my voice. Admittedly my voice emerged late in my career because, in my early years, so much of business culture was organized around women being seen but not heard.
Besides JumpCrew, at every company that I’ve worked for, I was the first black woman to sell for all companies on my CV. And on the majority of sales teams in which I’ve worked, I’ve been the only woman or the other woman on the team.
The Bro Club Setback
The bro club was the norm. Women had few options but to exist on the outside while men were the epicenter of information exchange and camaraderie; making us spectators while their careers soared. We made the best of the situation but suppressing the frustration of not being extended the same opportunities can be a bitter pill, if you chose that mindset.
The Road To Equality
The road to equality has been a long arc thus far. My women comrades and I developed resilience and grit to move forward and grow in the most creative ways possible while holding firmly to our dreams, goals, and aspirations.
We had to write our own playbook for balancing careers, marriages and children. You guys are so lucky as you get to rip up our playbook and write your own based on your vision and desires.
The world is changing in real-time before our eyes. JumpCrew is an outstanding example of what change looks like.
To my women peers: remember the shoulders you stand on and explore the historical iterations of change. Embrace the opportunity to continue pushing the envelope on the notion of equality without the baggage of the past. This is a moment in time where the world is inviting you to step forward and design a more equitable future where disparities in opportunities, access to leadership, and income are compressed and ultimately erased.
Join me in taking a few moments to set your intentions on what we can celebrate and what has been achieved. Most importantly, imagine the world you want to create.
I’ve never worked in an environment where I’ve been able to share my perspective, so I count JumpCrew as a blessing in this stage of my journey for amplifying my voice.
A Brief History of Women’s Equality Day
First proposed in Congress in 1878, the 19th Amendment passed the House and Senate in 1919 and was signed into law on August 26th, 1920 making this the 100th anniversary. This isn’t meant to be a history lesson, but I think setting the stage is always important. From 1776-1920 men were voting without us. 144 years – 41 of those seeing suffragettes take to the streets, the legislatures, public forums – was too long to take to recognize that women deserve a chance at an equal voice. To be very clear, that was just a voice in the voting booth – there are still many, many more iterations of the logic and ideals of the 19th Amendment awaiting realization in society and the workplace.
Self-love Comes First
Women’s Equality Day carries more weight for me each year and for that, I am so thankful – age is a gift but wisdom and growth are opportunities we have to seek. I have learned that loving myself first is my most important action to take every day as it is the action from which all others flow. This love for myself leads to my ability to advocate for others as I genuinely believe that what I say matters and is worthy. Self-love allows me to take up my space – not just occupy it – take. it. up. I want to speak and influence and learn and act and move in my space. And why can’t my space – why can’t our space – be in the legislatures and boardrooms where the conversations leading to the decisions about our space are being had? Loving myself first has allowed me to understand why it matters that I continue to speak up when I see inequity in the workplace and society.
Most importantly: loving myself first has empowered – if not at times, aggressively forced – me to protect my peace at all costs. Your peace is no one else’s. You must protect it with all of your focus and zeal. While it is important to speak on matters of inequity when you see them, you are not meant to carry the burden for the history – nor new instances – of inequity. Speak up when you can. Advocate when you have the strength. Encourage others – particularly and most especially men – to do the same and join in this fight. You are not a martyr. You are a human of purpose and worth – please do not let that innate power be taken from you by relinquishing your peace. Love yourself enough to know your health matters.
Women’s Equality Day: A Call-To-Action
Women’s Equality Day celebrates action from 100 years ago. My hope is that this day and others like it continue to serve as calls to action. To put it simply: we’re worth it and it’s time. The world is better when women have economic equity and opportunities for advancement. That’s a fact. Can’t believe it? Shocked to hear it? You’re not alone – heck, the U.N. has an entire initiative based around this fact, and others like it – feel free to check it out here. There is still work to do, I assure you.
