Gender Bias in the Workplace
Challenge: Women may face bias leading to fewer promotions and less recognition.
Overcome: Advocate for yourself by tracking your achievements and presenting them during performance reviews. Add a ‘Kudos’ folder to your email, so you can easily store the ‘We couldn’t have done it without you’ and ‘Thank You’ emails and are not struggling to remember your accomplishments during performance reviews or opportunities for promotion. Seek mentors and sponsors who can support your career growth.
Work-Life Balance
Challenge: Balancing demanding careers with personal life responsibilities.
Overcome: Set clear boundaries between work and personal life. Consider flexible working arrangements or part-time roles if necessary, and delegate tasks at home and work. Ask for help when needed. It doesn’t make you weak, it makes you human. There is strength in the vulnerability to admit when you need help.
Imposter Syndrome
Challenge: Feeling unqualified or doubting your abilities despite evidence of success.
Overcome: Reflect on your accomplishments and seek feedback from peers or mentors. Engage in continuous learning to boost confidence in your skills. Surround yourself with positive affirmations. They not only remind you of who (and Whose) you are, but are a great way to speak life to your future self.
Limited Networking Opportunities
Challenge: Women may find it harder to access informal networks where career opportunities are often discussed.
Overcome: Consider joining professional women's groups or associations within your field, attending industry events, and engaging actively in online communities. Searching on Google or LinkedIn for local opportunities or in-person meetings can be highly beneficial.
Underrepresentation in Leadership Roles
Challenge: Women are often underrepresented in senior positions within accounting firms.
Overcome: Pursue leadership training programs, seek leadership roles in smaller projects or teams, and express your interest in advancing within your organization.
Pay Disparity
Challenge: Women often earn less than their male counterparts for the same roles.
Overcome: Research salary benchmarks for your role and location and prepare to negotiate your salary with data and confidence. Don’t hesitate to ask for raises or promotions when justified.
Pressure to Conform to “Traditional” Roles
Challenge: Women may face expectations to take on administrative or support roles rather than leadership or technical positions.
Overcome: Assert your career goals clearly and seek roles that align with your ambitions. Challenge stereotypes by excelling in non-traditional roles.
Lack of Mentorship
Challenge: Women may find fewer female mentors in senior positions.
Overcome: Actively seek out mentors and sponsors, both male and female. Consider reverse mentoring, where you share your perspective with senior leaders, to build a mutually beneficial relationship.
Dealing with Workplace Harassment
Challenge: Women may encounter harassment or discrimination in the workplace.
Overcome: Familiarize yourself with your company’s policies on harassment and know the appropriate channels for reporting issues. Seek support from HR or legal resources if necessary.
Balancing Professional Development with Personal Life
Challenge: Finding time for continuing education or career advancement while managing personal responsibilities.
Overcome: Align your professional development with your personal life by setting realistic goals and timelines. Break larger goals into smaller, achievable milestones to stay motivated and celebrate progress along the way. Explore flexible options like online courses or part-time programs to accommodate your schedule.
About Sherrika
With over 15 years in corporate accounting within PE-backed and privately held organizations, Sherrika Sanders established Transform the GAAP (Goals Aligned Achieving Purpose) to leverage her knowledge and experience as an accomplished corporate accountant to develop accounting teams and high-performing women accountants, equipping them with the essential skills required to excel in any professional setting and advance their careers from stagnation to strategic growth. She helps realign accountants with who they are (values), how they show up (beliefs), and how to thrive in any professional setting (promotion) as they advance in corporate America. Sherrika was once in this same predicament and learned how to use her voice to get respect, recognition, and pay increases that aligned with her promotions. She wants to help other women of color do the same. Sherrika holds a Bachelor's in Accounting, an MBA, and a Master's in Organizational Leadership.
Sherrika's passion is to equip professional women of color with the skills necessary to thrive in any setting. Visit https://www.transformthegaap.com/ to learn more.
The Transform Tuesdays newsletter was created to help professionals navigate the world of corporate America by overcoming the hurdles hindering them from growing to the next level in their careers, including knowing their value, using their voice, and being authentic to themselves.
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