"Despite modest gains in representation over the last eight years, women — and especially women of color— are still dramatically underrepresented in corporate America. And this is especially true in senior leadership: Only one in four C-suite leaders is a woman, and only one in 20 is a woman of color," reports McKinsey & Company and Lean In in their new Women in the Workplace report, the largest study of women in corporate America.
Whether here in the U.S. or abroad, we have a long way to go. Still, it's important to recognize, acknowledge, and highlight progress. In this month's newsletter, we're choosing to do that — with you.
Global: The secret sauce
Recently, we caught up with Jean Baptiste Kamate, World Vision's leader of global field operations (pictured below in gray T-shirt). We asked him to share his thoughts on women in leadership. Here's what he had to say:
"When we think of 'the future is female,' it does not mean that the future is not male; rather, it means that the future is also female. Too often, we see societies functioning without the 'also female' part, where the contributions of women are consistently neglected and overlooked. This is a detriment to the flourishing of families, communities, and nations.
While the world has made progress toward women in leadership, they continue to be underrepresented in this area. The proportion of women in senior management roles globally grew to 32% in 2022 — and that’s the highest it has ever been.
Women serving in leadership roles is non-negotiable to me. At World Vision, our leadership at all levels should reflect what we’d like to see happen at the household and community level [in the places World Vision works]. Transforming lives begins in the home with the family unit, where women are already natural leaders, and extends into communities. When I worked in the field, I saw that development issues often could not be properly addressed without women — they were the secret sauce.
We must fight the paradigm that overlooks the leadership qualities of women. Women need the full backing of men in tackling the barriers that hold them back. This includes intentional recruitment, opportunities, encouragement, proper tools for execution, and coaching. It is time to unclip the wings of women and let them fly as leaders."
Central America: Intentionality in action
Jorge Galeano, the director of World Vision's offices in Honduras and Guatemala, was an early adopter of hiring and promoting women. Along the way he learned that it's not enough to just hire them. We need open and honest dialogue about the unique challenges facing female leaders in a patriarchal context and work intentionally to overcome these challenges.
Leadership Journey: Toward Inclusive Leadership, was recently launched with funding from Strong Women Strong World™ partners. The program unites women from four countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua) and creates a community of leaders who share experiences and grow together.
One of the participants, Catherine Turcios, said, "Being a woman and a leader has never been easy, but we believe God will empower us and bring out our best version. There are so many insecurities that a woman goes through when assuming leadership positions. Still, through this program, we are giving ourselves space to validate our emotions, and we are strengthening ourselves from vulnerability. I am grateful to have leaders who believe in us. I feel honored and inspired to be able to grow together with 33 fellow women. I know that together we will become stronger."
Africa: Bold, strong, and fearless
World Vision's Zambia office recently held its first Women’s Leadership Summit with the theme, Bold, Strong, and Fearless (photo at top). The objective was to enable current and aspiring women leaders to deepen their relationships as they grapple with key issues that affect their work and personal lives. Speakers included two World Vision national directors, Tinah Mukunda of Eswatini and Maria Carolina Silva of Mozambique.
Ms. Mukunda urged the women, "We have to earn the positions. We should get them on merit with a satisfaction that we worked hard for the positions attained, and we deserve them. For us to move to greater levels, we need to develop, appreciate, and protect one another."
Ms. Silva highlighted the importance of having access to solutions and expanding authentic support networks among women. She went on to share that there is a commitment from men in the highest leadership across World Vision to support women with gender equity and social inclusion.
On the homefront: Walking the talk
Bucking the current C-suite trends, three of the five (60%) senior vice presidents reporting to our president and CEO, Edgar Sandoval Sr. are female. Photos from left:
Priscilla Tuan, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer
Margaret Schuler, SVP and Chief Impact Officer
Daisy Szabo, SVP and Chief Human Resource Officer
Each of these leaders brings vast knowledge, experience, and track records of success. We're thankful to work at a Christian organization that walks the talk. If you're interested in career opportunities at World Vision, learn more here.
Ways to take action
Raise awareness | Go shopping at our online SWSW store!Two new items are now in stock: a racer-back flowy tank top and a super-soft lightweight fleece zip-up jacket!
Use your influence | Help us pass the Keeping Girls in School Actin both the House and Senate by taking five minutes to fill out this quick and easy online form. Thank you!
Invest in women and girls | Now you can double your impact.Every $1 given to theStrong Women Strong World™ Where Most Needed Fundwill be matched with a $1 donation to programs that empower women and girls, thanks to our generous SWSW partner, Clean Water Here (up to $12 million).
World Vision's Strong Women Strong World™
helps keep girls and women at the center of global community development, advocacy,
and emergency response work. Together, we can continue making a difference
in the lives of women and girls and accelerate communities’ progress out of poverty.