Pandemic Pressures for Women in the Workplace

Recently, I attended the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, DC. I had the great honor of participating in a session entitled Allyship, Mentorship and Leveling the Playing Field along with other women leaders Marissa Andrada - Chipotle Mexican Grill, Roberta Cordano - Gallaudet University and Carin Taylor - Workday. Together, we discussed challenges faced by women including how the pandemic has disrupted the lives of women in the workforce, especially Black, Indigenous and People of Color, and different ability. 

At Visa, we believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere. This means we’re actively working to enable global and equitable financial access, especially amid this pandemic. COVID-19 has shown us the inequities in many communities – limited access to food, housing, jobs, healthcare, high-speed Internet – and what these inequities can do to destabilize businesses and communities. Equality sometimes assumes a one-size-fits-all approach, but equity acknowledges that every individual has a unique set of circumstances, needs and varying levels of access to opportunity.

Taking a turn at the work / life crossroads

As mothers, sisters, daughters, wives and caregivers, we inevitably find ourselves at a crossroads as the priorities of personal and professional life collide. Many women in particular face an additional hurdle – lack of access to the support systems needed to make quick pivots and adapt to unforeseen circumstances. Pandemic pressures have come in the form of childcare challenges, increased workloads along with an increase in responsibilities at home, resulting in women leaving the workforce.

After 21 years at American Express, I had to make a very tough decision to resign from a job I loved. At the time, I was the Senior Vice President and General Manager of Card Operations and making daily decisions regarding work and life. My career was my number one priority, which was intentional and unintentional at times. However, my then five-year old daughter experienced grand mal seizures and with her diagnosis I knew she needed me to be home as a full-time mother.

The day I announced my departure, I received e-mails from across the company congratulating me on my decision and telling me I was courageous. At first, I could not reconcile bravery with my decision to devote my full attention to supporting my family. I had tremendous fear and trepidation about leaving behind over 25 years of corporate experience. I was afraid of the financial implications, about my future value in the marketplace and loss of status and title in a community that often assesses people based on position. My self-appreciation lift happened when I acknowledged success was less about a title at a specific company and it was more about using my intellectual capital differently for that particular phase in life.

Top 5 things women in the workplace need to excel:

1.      Transparency – it’s important for women to share their challenges with other women to learn, draw inspiration and achieve their personal best.

2.      A network of advocates – we need mentors, sponsors and leaders who recognize potential, performance and personal identity.

3.      A focus on inclusion – workplaces should invite and welcome women to the table to expand thinking and business outcomes.

4.      Opportunities for advancement – an investment should be made in opportunities for women to move into high-ranking roles within organizations.

5.      Work / Life options  – companies can acknowledge and help alleviate burnout.

What more can we do to build supportive, inclusive and diverse workplaces for women? I welcome your comments below.