Celebrate Career Women!!
Don't forget to appreciate the career adventuring ladies closest to you.
“Behind every great man is….” Finish the quote. You know it. A woman. What a terrible saying. Women aren’t behind men, subservient. Women fuel greatness. Women lead.
Take a second to think about the important women in your life. Who are they? What words define them? For me, they are doctors, marketing executives, moms, master’s degree holders, scientists, and more. They don’t sit behind their man and build up his greatness. They build their own stories, their own adventures in the world.
This month, it’s especially important to recognize the wonderful women in our lives. Not necessarily the celebrities we see on TV. Pay homage to the grandmothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, moms, and wives who lead us into the future. They lead our kids into the future.
For me, my moms, sister, and wife deserve special credit for all they do and have done. I’m proud to say they are true career adventurers. They are an amazing collective influence. Here’s but a snippet of the great work they do.
My Moms
I’ve got two moms: my mother-in-law and my mom. Words like pioneer, dedicated, risk-taker, cook, and expert come to mind. Let me tell you a little bit about both of them.
They are doctors, pediatricians. They became pediatricians in a male dominated world. Both bravely leapt into the profession in the 1970’s and ‘80’s. Back then, there weren’t nearly as many women as examples. They were early pioneers, leading the way. This takes guts, courage, and fortitude.
But, there’s more. Each one has excelled beyond the exam room. They have become gardeners. One has guided startups. The other has “mastered” the harp. They are inspiring. They, “…boldly go where no man has gone,” as was said in Star Trek.
My Sister
I’ve got a wonderful sister. She’s a mom. But, words like artist, scientist, risk-taker, empathetic, fun come to mind. Here’s a bit more about her.
She has a Master’s in Speech and Hearing Science. She helps kids with cleft pallet, feeding, and more at a venerable Children’s hospital. I’ve watched her excel in school and graduate from two of the top speech and hearing science programs in the world. She’s thoughtful and helpful to lives beyond her own and her family’s.
Again, there’s more. She taught English in Ecuador. She is an accomplished singer. She has performed in multiple acapella groups. I always love hearing here belt out a tune like Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. It’s cool to see how this skill is influencing her own children.
Most Importantly, My Wife
I am married to the most amazing woman in the world. She too is a mom. She’s stoic, wicked smart, analytical, well read, thoughtful, cool, fun, and more. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe her.
She graduated from one of the top business schools in the world. We met as Corporate Finance geeks at Procter & Gamble. She is becoming one of the best leaders I’ve ever met. Now, she leads international marketing with a well known household consumer goods company.
Of course, there’s more. She is a great baker. She makes “Potbelly” oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and cakes that are to die for. She is an amazing skier: so graceful as she whoooshes down the slopes. I’m fast. She’s faster…and more controlled! She’s also an amazing reader and consumer of information. It takes me twice as long to read a book or “Google” something as her.
Why Write This
We are raising two amazing daughters. Women’s rights are under assault in the US. Women aren’t paid enough. Not enough women are in C-suite positions. You’ve heard all the stats. I want our daughters to see unlimited career possibilities for their lives. I don’t want them to feel as if their gender will limit them.
I’m grateful my daughters have amazing, accomplished women they see daily and directly. They can look at Nana, Grammy, and Auntie as good examples. Most importantly, they see Mama, their rockstar leader with a warm, compassionate heart. Each one is a career adventurer in her own right. They have excelled in their work, trying different paths. They have excelled in their hobbies. Most importantly, they are just good people.
What You Can Do
Celebrate and build up the women close to you. Show them you know how awesome they are. Tell them they are amazing. Compliment they’re accomplishments, both small and large. Do this whether you have daughters or not. All children need to see positive female role models leading, growing, and celebrating daily.
Dudes: you can prioritize their career adventures as much as your own. Many women prioritize their partner’s careers over theirs. Notice, I didn’t say to prioritize it over your own. It’s a complex topic. But, her career is just as valuable and needs to be at least equal to yours.
Also, dudes can take on a heavier load of the childcare responsibilities. Women take on the majority of household tasks. Part of the reason women let their career adventures take a back seat is because of the childrearing and household management tasks. All men need to do is a bit more of their fair share. Learn to cook!
My wife and I are doing our own account of “the balance” in our household. We recently purchased Fair Play flashcards from Eve Rodsky. It helps couples ensure the household work load is balanced.
Thanks for reading!
Paul G. Fisher