For all of my misgivings about being a woman in the workplace, one of the best things about being a woman — period — is the community of women who want us to succeed. From the mentors who help us fine-tune our talents to the coworkers who read our important emails, the way working women band together is pretty incredible.
And while everyone needs real life allies, what if I told you there was a podcast that provides special insights into what the workplace is like for women, how to succeed in that environment and how we can change it for the better?
Well, it exists. In Season 3 of Fairygodboss Radio, six women across organizations shared their career experiences. Along the way, they gave us their best advice. Here’s what they had to say:
“Make your career about doing great work, not about the plan… If you’re passionate about what you do and you do great work, the rest will take care of itself.” — Beth Webster, Former Head of HR, TD Bank.
“Even in the midst of contentious times in your workplace, don’t forget to fortify yourself. Focus on making sure you’re okay, too.” — Janeen Uzzell, COO, Wikimedia Foundation.
“Share your voice. Speak up. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Advocate for yourself and advocate for others.” — Celeste Warren, Vice President, Human Resources and Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, Merck.
“If you are contemplating a risk, take it. It can be scary but it is where the growth happens. The only regret people have is the risk they didn’t take.” — Sally Susman, Executive Vice President, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pfizer.
“Don’t sacrifice your growth for comfort. Choose growth [and] choose courage over comfort any time. It will pay dividends throughout your life.” — Laura Fuentes, SVP of Talent and Rewards, Hilton.
“Be curious!” — Shuchi Sharma, Global Lead, Gender Intelligence, SAP.
For more advice and insights on women in the workplace, listen to Fairygodboss Radio (available on Fairygodboss, Blogtalkradio, iTunes, and Stitcher).