New York, NY – March is National Women’s History Month — a time dedicated to highlighting women’s achievements, advances and essential contributions to our workplaces, as well as our society. This month also recalls groundbreaking events such as the March 8, 1908 rally in New York City where 15,000 women assembled to demand better working conditions, an end to child labor and the right to vote. This event would grow into the first International Women’s Day one year later.
Fast-forward to today, and women are once again at the forefront of uplifting American culture — challenging workplace biases, chronic inequality and the gender pay gap.
We should celebrate increasing numbers of women serving in leadership roles — and not only helping those businesses to thrive, but also grow in diverse and inclusive ways. These advances extend far beyond traditional office environments. They include women electricians, carpenters, operating engineers, painters, steamfitters and more. Women are going above and beyond to claim their space across a myriad of occupations. In fact, whether the change is happening on a construction site, a classroom, hospital, squad car, ambulance, fire truck or in an executive boardroom — increasing evidence shows women are testing higher in leadership roles than men.
According to Harvard Business Review, “Research has shown that firms with more women in senior positions are more profitable, more socially responsible. And provide safer, higher quality customer experiences — among many other benefits.”
Supporting evidence further shows companies with more women in leadership outperform companies run exclusively by men alone. All this should be noted and celebrated.
I write this as the grown child of a woman who owned a company in a male-dominated industry. I write this as a child who watched his Mother, Alice E. Kimmel, build a business from a sidewalk in Jamaica, Queens. She applied for contracts with the New York City Housing Authority and put heat in homes for people who could not do so for themselves. Mom took a small shop and turned it into a thriving business — proving Rosie the Riveter was right when she declared, “We can do it!” Women can do anything. And they’re proving it.
Ben Kimmel is a proud member of the IUOE Local 94, as well as an Author, Writer on thewrittenaddiction.com, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Wellbeing and DEI Content Provider, Certified Addiction and Recovery Coach, Certified Professional Life Coach, and Peer & Wellness Advocate. Ben can be reached at bennyk1972@gmail.com
