I heard Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms say this afternoon that she’s going to let her daughter stay up late to see Kamala Harris’ speech tonight, accepting the Democratic VP nomination.
It’s one of those moments.
In a Fairygodboss’ panel today on women in STEM, Mandy Spohrer from J&J said that one of the biggest obstacles facing women in STEM today is “women being able to see themselves in the roles they want, that they dream of having. There’s not a lot of representation in the STEM industry if you’re looking for somebody to emulate or be your role model. Having access to mentors who look like you is huge.”
Or as Michelle Obama said in an IG post earlier this week, “You get used to it, even as a little girl – opening the newspaper, turning on the TV, and hardly ever seeing anyone who looks like you. You train yourself to not get your hopes up. And sometimes it’s a battle just to keep telling yourself that you might deserve more. Because no matter how much you prepare, no matter what grades you get or even how high you rise at work, it always feels like someone is waiting to tell you that you’re not qualified. That you’re not smart enough. That you’re too loud or too bossy. That there’s just something about you…you’re just not quite the right fit.”
She continued, “I’ve been thinking about all those girls growing up today who will be able to take it for granted that someone who looks like them can grow up to lead a nation like ours.”
As a 6′ tall white man, I’ve never had to imagine myself as the first. I’ve never had to fear that first leap. I doubt I’ve faced unconscious or conscious bias against me when I applied for a new role. In fact, I think it’s been the exact opposite…I look like the typical Silicon Valley tech marketer and that has led to lots of open doors.
White men, as you think about Kamala Harris taking the stage tonight, know that we can’t even begin to understand what she’s gone through. Know that it’s not so different when you’re interviewing anyone who doesn’t look exactly like you. Know that while you may not be part of the problem, there’s probably more that you can do to drive a more diverse and inclusive culture at your company.
As I think through potential startups or the idea I’ve had for a while – Weight Watchers for your Career – one critical aspect is enabling people to see the examples that are already out there and provide opportunities to learn from those who came before. A lot of women have already taken that giant leap. I’d love to shine a light on more of them.