Breaking the Glass Ceiling: How to Foster Gender Equality in Your Company's Culture

Diversity and inclusion mission for businesses

Fosters a more inclusive and respectful work environment and can influence company performance, job satisfaction, and overall employee well-being. 

High-ability women face numerous challenges when it comes to finding or developing a company culture that genuinely supports and includes women. I recently interviewed Lisa Mulligan, an experienced consultant with a background in male-dominated industries, for The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast. Lisa has firsthand experience tackling these challenges and has emerged as a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. In this blog post, we'll dive into her journey shedding light on the steps and strategies she used to make a meaningful impact on company culture, paving the way for other women to thrive in the workplace.

Establishing an inclusive company culture for women is vital in today's rapidly evolving workplace landscape. Women face unique challenges professionally, and supporting their growth, well-being, and contribution is a key factor for success. A company culture that values inclusivity, diversity, and fairness leads to confident, motivated employees, resulting in a more successful and innovative business. Here, we will delve into how you, as a female entrepreneur, can initiate these changes within your own organization and create a thriving, supportive environment that benefits women, fosters positive change, and ultimately drives your business forward.  If you are an intrapreneur (an entrepreneurial woman who is employed in an organization, nonprofit or academic institution,  these strategies will serve you as well. 

Here are the steps to cultivating workplace fairness and culture change for women.:

Assess your current company culture and barriers
Creating an inclusive company culture for women starts by assessing your current workplace environment and identifying any barriers that may be preventing gender equality and diversity. It's vital to look at both tangible and intangible aspects of your company culture, such as hiring practices, pay equity, promotion opportunities, and the general atmosphere and attitudes toward gender issues within the organization. By understanding the existing culture, you can begin to identify possible areas for improvement and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. 

According to Mulligan, one of the key barriers to building an inclusive culture for women is that decisions are often made by those who benefit from the status quo. This can lead to resistance to change, even when initiatives are implemented to promote diversity and equity. Mulligan emphasized that individuals and organizations need to work together to drive change, focusing on actions rather than just discussions about diversity and inclusion. This includes addressing biases in hiring practices, creating opportunities for fair promotions, and ensuring that all employees are seen, heard, and respected. 

This assessment process is important not only because it promotes fairness and equity within the organization but also because it can lead to a more diverse and innovative workforce that is better equipped to handle the complex challenges of the modern business world. By identifying and addressing barriers to inclusion, organizations can empower women and other minority groups to succeed, fostering a positive work environment and promoting long-term growth and success. It's important for female entrepreneurs and business owners to take the lead in driving this change, breaking down barriers, and championing inclusivity within their own organizations and their industry as a whole. By doing so, they can help to establish a new paradigm of workplace culture that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion for all.

Develop a clear diversity and inclusion mission
Developing a clear diversity and inclusion mission is an essential step for female entrepreneurs and businesses looking to foster a more inclusive company culture for women. While organizations around the world are implementing programs and initiatives to improve diversity and inclusion, there is still a lot of work to be done in ensuring these efforts are genuinely effective. It is crucial for organizations to take a proactive approach to creating well-defined diversity and inclusion missions that encompass hiring practices, workplace culture, and support for employees from all walks of life. Mulligan believes that culture change starts from both ends, with individuals and organizations working together to enact tangible shifts in how all employees are seen, acknowledged, heard, respected, and included. This includes addressing hiring biases, providing equitable resources and support, and ensuring that intersectionality is taken into consideration when implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives. 

Ensuring that women are provided with equal opportunities, resources, and recognition should be a top priority for business owners and female entrepreneurs looking to create lasting change. Implementing a mission that considers intersectionality and addresses hiring biases, as well as providing necessary support, can help businesses become more successful and create opportunities for women to thrive within their organizations. By committing to these initiatives and fostering a genuinely diverse and inclusive workplace, companies can work towards eradicating inequalities and ensuring that all employees, regardless of their background, have a fair and equal opportunity to succeed.

Establish effective diversity and inclusion policies
Establishing effective diversity and inclusion policies is crucial in building an inclusive company culture for women. A diverse and inclusive work environment fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration, leading to better business performance and employee satisfaction. Moreover, having concrete, well-structured policies in place helps companies to clearly define their goals and expectations around diversity and inclusion, ensuring that everyone is on the same page in terms of what is expected and how to achieve it. These policies should encompass hiring, promotion, and development practices, as well as broader company culture initiatives – it's essential for companies to create a workplace where all employees feel heard, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential, regardless of their gender or background. 

Mulligan believes that companies and individuals alike can effect meaningful change by putting their policies into practice – for example, by addressing hiring biases, implementing flexible working arrangements, or creating mentorship programs for underrepresented groups. The importance of effective diversity and inclusion policies cannot be overstated, particularly for women who may face unique barriers to entry and advancement in male-dominated industries. By integrating diversity and inclusion into the company culture, businesses can foster greater engagement, satisfaction, and productivity among all employees, ultimately contributing to the organization's overall success. Creating a level playing field for everyone enables women to thrive, and access the same opportunities as their male counterparts, breaking down the barriers that may have impeded their career growth in the past. Companies that understand the value of a diverse and inclusive workforce are setting themselves up for long-term success by harnessing the wealth of talent, creativity, and innovation that each individual can bring to the table.

Implement unbiased hiring and promotion processes
Building an inclusive company culture for women is crucial in today's diverse and rapidly changing workforce. One of the most critical aspects of achieving this goal is implementing unbiased hiring and promotion processes to ensure that all candidates are given equal opportunities to succeed irrespective of their gender or background. A key step in this process is addressing the existing biases in both recruitment and advancement within organizations, which tend to disadvantage women and other underrepresented groups. Mulligan believes that organizations must identify and challenge their own inherent biases and actively pursue more diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices in order to create a level playing field for everyone. By doing so, companies can begin to transform their company culture and foster an environment in which women can grow, thrive, and take up leadership positions. 

This key step is particularly important for the female entrepreneur audience as the issue of workplace fairness and culture change directly impacts their abilities to succeed and make a difference in their chosen industries. The implementation of unbiased hiring and promotion processes is vital in ensuring that talented and ambitious women have access to equal opportunities, without being held back by discrimination or unconscious bias. By fostering a fair and inclusive environment, companies can not only attract and retain top talent but also drive innovation and success at a higher level. Investing in measures that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion is not just a moral obligation, but a strategic decision that benefits everyone involved. 

Provide education and training for employees
Creating an inclusive company culture for women requires a multifaceted approach, with one key aspect being to provide education and training for employees. By educating employees on issues such as unconscious bias, gender stereotypes, and the challenges faced by women in the workplace, organizations can help foster an atmosphere of understanding and empathy. Training programs that teach both men and women the skills needed to communicate effectively, collaborate, negotiate, and lead can help bridge the gap between genders. Additionally, these programs should focus on raising awareness of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, so everyone recognizes the value of an inclusive workplace.  

Lisa Mulligan’s work with The Culture Ministry showcases the importance of outlining specific steps and strategies companies can adopt to create a more inclusive environment for women. The importance of developing a clear diversity and inclusion mission for businesses cannot be understated, as doing so not only fosters a more inclusive and respectful work environment, but can also influence company performance, job satisfaction, and overall employee well-being.  I encourage you to visit Lisa’s website, connect with her on Linked In and listen to the full interview on The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast, which you can find here: https://bit.ly/3Mjc1PE