Women in Business
Celebrating By Kelli Charlton, Director of Business Development at Stapley Pharmacy
T
Women
he 2020 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report showed that women have surpassed men in the workforce in the United States at 50.04%, and Washington County is no exception to that data. The portrait of the working woman encompasses single and married women with and without children; each one is striving to surpass previous levels of excellence in all occupations and in any and all positions, especially positions that were once considered a job only a man could do.
The modern-day working woman is extraordinary in her own right. Hard-working and goal-oriented, women play pivotal roles in our community and are found in every segment of the workforce, including the healthcare, legal, education, hospitality, construction, and sales industries. If you couple these statistics with the fact that in multiple surveys, women are the major influencers of large purchase decisions for the household, the term “work-life balance” takes on a whole new meaning for working females. Recently, LeanIn.org and KcKinsey & Company released their annual report. During the course of their research, they surveyed more than 400 companies and more than 65,000 employees in professional jobs from the entry to the corporate level. The results found that, despite the tremendous stress placed on them during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing struggles for both gender and race equality in the workplace, at all levels, women were more effective leaders, encouraged fellow employees to excel, and supported diversity, equity, and inclusion. According to the report, women managers were more invested in helping employees navigate work-life challenges and ensuring workloads were manageable, both of which are necessary for the operation of a successful business. Other research suggests that women are endowed with strong communication and networking skills. They listen carefully, readily share their ideas, and give advice to encourage teamwork and collaboration, all while maintaining their professionalism. The proverbial “glass ceiling” is in the process of being shattered with proof at the highest level: a woman is currently holding the United States Vice Presidency position. Additionally, there are more female CEOs, CFOs, and COOs than ever before.
42 Southern Utah Business Magazine :: Winter 2021
