Women’s empowerment is a year-round discussion

Today we celebrate and recognize the many hurdles women have overcome to #EmbraceEquity. But globally, we are far from achieving gender parity (132 years away to be exact, according to the World Economic Forum’s latest data). As America strives to become a gender equal country, CURA will walk the talk and hold itself accountable by creating inclusive and equitable environments for its employees. We continue to invest in women and diversity in the workplace, and we partner with transformational clients who share our values. As a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), we are indebted to the women and allies before us who have paved a path for equity, and we are grateful for their unparalleled contributions to society. In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked three of our female leaders to share words of wisdom on how they empower themselves and uplift other women in the workplace. What are the advantages of having women in leadership positions? Any company should be striving for leadership diversity, not just women but people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. This is especially true in our industry—we need perspectives that represent all we are trying to reach. Beyond the obvious moral and logical reasons, there is a strong business case. Studies show that companies led by women, or with multiple women on their boards, outperform companies with less gender diversity. Companies with diverse leadership are also more likely to invest in innovation and less likely to have reputational scandals and lawsuits. The bottom line is, companies and organizations that intentionally seek to include women leaders are better, period. – Anne Woodbury, CEO and Founder What words of wisdom would you impart to your 18-year-old self? Be confident in yourself—in your interests, passions, abilities and all the things that make you unique. Do not worry so much about what people think of you and instead of seeing your differences from others as a flaw, see it as a strength. Surround yourself by people who enrich your life and help you be a better you. And don’t be afraid to stand up and speak up about the things that matter to you. Work hard but know your limits. It’s OK to say no or ask for help when you need it. Through hard work and kindness to others, you will go far. – Thy-Ann Nguyen, Chief-of-Staff What career-related steps have you taken to increase your level of self-assurance and/or resiliency? I learned from awesome leaders and mentors (previous managers, professors and colleagues) that I don’t need to know all the answers all the time. I credit a lot of my self-assurance to these relationships I’ve nurtured. They have supported my professional development, educational pursuit and ultimately my career advancement. These relationships have also empowered me to ask for what I need to feel secure in the work that I do and the impact it has. – Falen Petros, Public Health Account Supervisor 365 days a year, we #EmbraceEquity and keep women’s empowerment part of our values and culture. We will continue to make positive progress towards building diversity, equity and inclusivity until gender parity is a reality for women in every industry in America.