Update (May 29, 2014): We had a great Twitter chat at the hashtag #CDNWomen today, covering the issues of women pursuing leadership roles in the workplace. Keep reading for a recap of what we said during a fascinating discussion.
These and other questions will be tackled on CDN’s Twitter chat on the topic of women in the channel as equal and valued leaders on Thursday, May 29 at 1 p.m. ET until 2 p.m. ET. Use the hashtag #CDNWomen.
Join our two guest experts: Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp), president of Sharp Perspective Inc., a former head of the reseller and channel distribution division of Microsoft Canada; and Jennifer Johnson (@JJMarketerIM), senior director of marketing and North America marketing strategy at Ingram Micro.
Jennifer will speak about her thoughts on women leading in the channel and Sharp will share her experiences as a female leader in the IT industry.
Here’s a list of the questions we’ll be tackling during our discussion:
Q1. How can women be leaders in the workplace?
A1. Women must acknowledge, not discount, their own talent. Embrace your differences. #CDNWomen (1/3)
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
A1:Be #confident, see yourself in leadership roles at all levels. #Confidencecode – Katty Kay. #CDNWomen are already leading but not enough
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
A1: Put your hand up. Take #risks. Embrace #challenges to gain #opportunities for #promotion for #CDNWomen. If you don’t someone else will
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
@CompDealerNews Be Fearless! You never know what you’re capable of until you try. #CDNWomen
— Lean In Toronto (@LeanInToronto) May 29, 2014
Q2. What role does mentorship play in encouraging women to fully participate in the workplace?
Find someone you respect, someone who understands your environment, someone who wants to help you #CDNwomen
— fawnannan (@fawnannan) May 29, 2014
Become mentor by seeking those who are curious and want to learn and teach. #CDNWomen
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
Great conversation at #CDNWomen – I’m doing what men should learn to do everyone once in a while. Just listening 🙂
— Jim Love (@therealjimlove) May 29, 2014
@fawnannan Well said! A good #mentor will share their successes and failures with you which leads to better decision making. #CDNWomen
— Lean In Toronto (@LeanInToronto) May 29, 2014
Q3. Some people feel gender is no longer an issue in the world of work. Do you agree or disagree?
@CompDealerNews DISagree. I think a lot of people don’t even realize how gender stereotypes impact their decisions. #CDNWomen
— Laura Landy (@_LauraLandy_) May 29, 2014
A3. Gender isn’t the issue – it’s about balancing the gender scales in specific fields and levels #CDNWomen
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
GenY don’t see gender like their elders. http://t.co/XEODJiwpO6 #CDNWomen
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
@CompDealerNews Still a big #gendergap for pay, leadership – #diversity strengthens business value #CDNWomen
— Gail Mercer-MacKay (@gailmercermac) May 29, 2014
We place most things in categories and boxes to understand the world around us. Gender is one more thing. #CDNwomen
— fawnannan (@fawnannan) May 29, 2014
A3 It definitely still matters. Just look at Google’s own assessment of its workplace diversity http://t.co/06phJWjS9I #CDNWomen
— IT Business Canada (@itbusinessca) May 29, 2014
Q4. What changes do we need to see in the workplace so women can have an equal voice?
Gender pay gap starts with lower allowance for girls. #CDNwomen It starts at home too. https://t.co/hGyvYsRvQK
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
#CDNwomen impact the business they are in. Doors of diversity are opening wider. Hold it open for the next women to pass thru.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
@CompDealerNews Lot of the issues are “human” issues – workplace culture, leadership capacity & skills, need for collaboration #CDNWomen
— Cheryl Sylvester (@csylvester) May 29, 2014
Do things like maternity leave go far enough to accommodate women in the workplace? #CDNWomen
— Candice So (@candice_so) May 29, 2014
Watch for why #CDNwomen drop below pay norm. Missing promotion wage increase cycles while on maternity leave a big one.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
McKinsey quarterly reported companies ranking in top quartile of exec board diversity show 53% higher ROE. #CDNWomen http://t.co/DvsyhvforO
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
A better question is around paternity. #CDNwomen
— fawnannan (@fawnannan) May 29, 2014
@fawnannan The difference is men will ask for the $, returning women need to. #CDNWomen
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
If you doubt that gender pay gap exists, just play with this Stats Can calculatore to see http://t.co/L73CMbTwTC #CDNwomen
— IT Business Canada (@itbusinessca) May 29, 2014
Q5. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve experienced as a woman in tech?
Go get me coffee mentality still exists with #BabyBoomers. #CDNwomen leaders don’t get relegated to coffee clerks. #confidence
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
Nobody to talk to! #CDNwomen
— fawnannan (@fawnannan) May 29, 2014
RT @JJmarketerIM: YES YES YES Biggest challenges are the limits we put on ourselves. Get over the imbalance of skirts in the room #CDNWomen
— Gail Mercer-MacKay (@gailmercermac) May 29, 2014
@CompDealerNews Mine are self-imposed: rumination, over-preparing, perfectionism to the point of paralysis = enemies of confidence #CDNWomen
— Laura Landy (@_LauraLandy_) May 29, 2014
Q6. For stereotypically “female traits” (less aggressive, team player, bossy) – are these helpful or disadvantageous?
A6 #CDNWomen don’t have to BE like men. Celebrate differences, ensure we are focused on driving results
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
A6: #CDNwomen acknowledge that all people judge. Be the person you want to be and own it. #confidence
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
@JJmarketerIM That’s step 1. Can’t stop there. Learn lots, meet people, learn more. See the opportunity vs limitation #CDNWomen
— Cheryl Sylvester (@csylvester) May 29, 2014
A6. A6. Interesting comments on owning “female” traits in here: http://t.co/mEnXdpfWRv #CDNWomen
— Laura Landy (@_LauraLandy_) May 29, 2014
Q7. What are some of the best ways male colleagues can support women in the workplace?
7 Things Men Should Do At Work To Help Women Get Even http://t.co/EU9agj6TJU via @bi_contributors #CDNWomen
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
Breaking down stereotypical behaviour expectations frees us all. Authenticity and diversity will supercharge our companies. #CDNWomen
— Jim Love (@therealjimlove) May 29, 2014
@CompDealerNews Treat all colleagues #women and #men with #respect #CDNWomen
— Gail Mercer-MacKay (@gailmercermac) May 29, 2014
Great leaders mentor #CDNwomen because of their future opportunities in business. Ask male President if he mentors any women.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
@brianjjackson We have only had one male attend our workshops so far! Would love to have more join for new perspective #CDNWomen
— Lean In Toronto (@LeanInToronto) May 29, 2014
Q8. How can we address the wage gap in the workplace?
Q9. Address the gap. Follow model organizations that invest in 3rd party equity assessments and address gaps with transparency #CDNWomen
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
Business value budgets more than equality in tough times. #CDNwomen need to know, ask equal pay for equal work/experience.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
We, as women, need to do a better job of asking when it comes to wage! Never be afraid, you owe it to yourself! #CDNWomen #wagegap
— Ashley Stachura (@AshleyxoLyn) May 29, 2014
Don’t assume your work will speak for you. Learning to market your wins is all part of the process of finding your voice #CDNwomen.
— Elaine Mah (@e_mah) May 29, 2014
Don’t assume your work will speak for you. Learning to market your wins is all part of the process of finding your voice #CDNwomen.
— Elaine Mah (@e_mah) May 29, 2014
Wouldn’t paying for performance help eliminate the gender wage gap? We say results count but do we reward results? #CDNWomen
— Jim Love (@therealjimlove) May 29, 2014
@therealjimlove Pay for performance depends on how you measure it. Inequality still exists on who/how results are measured. #CDNWomen
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
Q9. How can women address balance between work, family, career? (especially in tech, where people are always connected?)
A10: #Work/Life Balance means different things to each person. #work/lifeintegration the better goal for #CDNwomen.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
A10. Important to find an organization that culturally fits wtihin your work style and family needs. #CDNWomen #IngramMicro (1/4)
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
A10: Studies show men helping more around the house. They call it metrosexual. #CDNwomen calls it “about time”
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
A10. Many younger women seek benefits such as alternative work arrangements, mobile technology, flex schedules #CDNWomen. #Amen.for.IT
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
You’ll drive yourself crazy trying for ‘balance’ — go for harmony #CDNWomen
— Elaine Mah (@e_mah) May 29, 2014
What is the difference between work-life balance & work-life integration? #CDNWomen
— Candice So (@candice_so) May 29, 2014
@Candice_so the difference is that my work and life is fully integrated. I may be always on but I love it that way. #Cdnwomen.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
I’d say Integration is more about location and balance is more about time. @candice_so #CDNWomen #TheArtOf #BalancedLiving
— Wakata Inc. (@TheWakataInc) May 29, 2014
Q10. Should women be treated exactly the same as men in the workplace, or should we acknowledge there is a difference?
A11: #CDNwomen don’t want to be treated differently. No woman WANTs to be hired because she is female.
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
I believe we should always appreciate differences, as it shows acceptance and appreciation of our diversity and differences #CDNwomen
— fawnannan (@fawnannan) May 29, 2014
Final thoughts. Much work across the gender and generational divide. I look forward to being part of the change DO YOU. #CDNWomen
— Corinne Sharp (@CorinneSharp) May 29, 2014
Final thoughts. Be confident. Be true to you. Create your own path. Find great mentors. Let your results prove women are awesome #CDNWomen
— Jennifer Johnson (@JJmarketerIM) May 29, 2014
Retweet this:
We're holding a Twitter chat on #womenintech w/ @jjmarketerIM & @corinnesharp. Join in at #CDNWomen on May 29, 1pmET! http://t.co/YiBMuKcr5Y
— Channel Daily News (@CDN_Channel) May 20, 2014