Who runs the world? Girls. Well, not quite yet, but they are certainly on their way! Women are doing extraordinary things that weren’t even a thought in recent history. The stats are in and the new generation of girls is receiving higher test marks, entering universities at the highest rates in history, and beginning to land more STEM and professional business careers than ever before. Although today’s women are a force to be reckoned with, the equality gap remains persistent and options continue to be limited in comparison with male counterparts. However, as more women move ahead, light is being shed on the disparity, turning awareness into progress.
The days of Mad Men may be over, but women aren’t working this hard for a consolation prize. Pay inequality is still common, and the distance grows the higher you climb the ladder. To offer some positive comebacks, dozens of organizations are making strides to make sure women have all the resources possible to shrink the gap and play on an even field.
Helping Women Shine
As a Gen-Y navigating the professional world myself, I’m incredibly interested in observing the diversity of career paths my peers are following. Navigating this realm can still be tricky for anyone, and having someone to bounce ideas off of is essential. Introducing LEVO League.
Embracing the Latin word for “elevate,” co-founders Caroline Ghosn and Amanda Pouchot launched the site as mentorship for women in the first steps of their professional careers. Young women can pick the brains of a plethora of mentors online in careers across the spectrum. Starting in New York in 2012, the league has spread across the states and even has chapters in Europe.Non-profit veteran, Count Me In, began in 1999 as a way to provide resources, business education, and support for female entrepreneurs. This excited group of ladies is constantly dreaming up new ways to collaborate and push women forward. CEO and founder Nell Merlino has been changing things up since before the days of Count Me In, by doing things such as organizing National Take Our Daughters to Work Day, a program with over 71 million participants! Recently, she has worked with Hillary Clinton to launch her program “Make Mine a Million,” a year-long business growth program for female entrepreneurs. Her ideas are never ending and she is the leader that is making other mentorship programs possible.Reaching out to a narrower sector in the world of professional women, Asian Women in Business has assisted over 35,000 Asian women in their professional careers in New York. The niche group offers support by focusing on networking and collaboration. Great conferences and workshops are always being organized, some of which can benefit women of any background.Amazing projects are taken on by some amazing women, but someone had to take the lead and broadcast their stories. The Story Exchange, a non-profit backed by the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and Forbes among others, is the ultimate “you go girl” documentary project. Co-founders Victoria Wang and Sue Williams want to showcase the efforts of hardworking women through the 1,000 Stories project, a collection of stories from 1,000 female entrepreneurs making an impact around the world. Is your story bold and making a difference? Learn more about the project and check out their application to become one of the stories being heard.
Lending a Hand… and Some Capital
Mentorship programs are essential, but successful startups need a little more nourishment in the form of cash. One new accelerator to watch out for is Women Innovate Mobile. After noticing that female founded startups were receiving less VC funding than men, they decided to change up the game. A startup itself, WIM is the first startup accelerator to focus on female-founded mobile startups in NYC. Founded by a power-trio of entrepreneurs, and backed by companies like Google and Apple, WIM’s selections are going to be ones to look out for. AppGuppy, Loudly, and SQL Vision are already a part of the first round of graduates.Diving further into a more established incubator, Golden Seeds was founded with the intention of raising more venture capital for women. After her career on Wall Street, founder Stephanie Newby noticed that only 5% of venture capital was being invested in women, and that needed to change! Golden Seeds’ portfolio currently consists of over 40 startups across the spectrum, my favorite being Love Sac, a brand of super comfortable lounge chairs. New York isn’t the only city nurturing early businesses (though we are quite partial). Women-focused programs like Springboard Enterprises are holding the reins in Washington D.C., while Astia is thriving in San Francisco.
What’s Next Mr. Mayor?
In addition to incubators, accelerators, mentorships and general uplifting support, the city may be adding women within the seams of the city. Newly appointed Mayor Bill de Blasio worked primarily with women on his campaign, which led him to a 73 percent victory over his competitors. Emma Wolfe, Anna Greenberg and Rebecca Kirszner Katz were major players among many on the campaign. His wife, Chirlane McCray, has also been by his side in the public eye. Showing the city that they are a team, she participates in consulting and editing his speeches. If de Blasio saw the power of the female workforce behind his campaign, what will he have in store for women during his time in office? And more importantly, how will this new team keep an eye an out for the best ways for startups to grow, especially the women who are making huge strides? Women have always had ideas, ambition and drive, but now the environment is ripe to mix all of these components and run with it. Now with the right tools, female entrepreneurs are finding their footing and building not only businesses, but empires. Nurturing a community of collaboration and mentorship is a surefire way for women to succeed, and the best bet for climbing an equal ladder to an open sky.