On March 8, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. It’s an appropriate time for a societal gut check: Just how well are we doing at achieving gender equality?
When it comes to career growth, women in the workplace still face more challenges than their male colleagues. Studies show that less than 1/3 of senior roles globally are held by women. And, according to the World Economic Forum, women are paid just 63% of what men earn. Then there’s the matter of self-promotion. On average, men apply for a job or promotion when they meet just 60% of the qualifications, but women only apply if they meet 100% of them. On the other hand, more recent research shows that if a woman exhibits too much confidence, she’ll face a backlash effect.
Google Marketing leaders from countries including Brazil, France, India, Japan, and the U.K. tackle this topic and others. They also share their career stories, challenges, and advice for women — or anyone — developing their careers.
In almost every culture, kids — but especially girls — are taught that it’s not polite to talk about one’s achievements. In Japan, for example, the expression “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down” teaches children not to draw attention to themselves. Thousands of miles away in the U.K., kids learn that “the whale that spouts gets harpooned.”
That’s why Anna Vainer, a marketer in London’s Google office, decided to launch #IamRemarkable with a former colleague, Anna Zapesochini. Last year, Vainer explained how she turned her side project into a global movement that has helped 20,000 people across 50 countries share exactly why they’re remarkable.