MADISON, Wis.—A business case for the economic empowerment of women was made during a virtual Global Women’s Leadership Network (GWLN) Forum.
The Forum was part of the 2021 Virtual World Credit Union Conference hosted by the World Council of Credit Unions and featured three sessions promoting its “SheforShe” initiative, which organizers described as a continuing effort to encourage leaders to become active in promoting women to leadership roles in the credit union industry.
Darcie Murray, senior managing partner with Allen Austin, led an international women’s leadership panel discussion on the “three A’s to narrow inequality gaps for women—accomplice, ally, advocate.” The discussion featured the business case for the economic empowerment of women and took a closer look at the challenges and obstacles women have experienced in terms of promotions, growth and advancement, WOCCU reported.
‘Our Own Worst Enemies’
“I’ve often found, in many parts of the world, that we, women, are our own worst enemies due to our own lack of self-confidence or due to other women keeping each other down due to a lack of seats at the table,” Murray told attendees.
Data presented by Murray showed that a lack of self-confidence and demands of family responsibilities were the top two obstacles preventing women from going after leadership positions in the financial services industry.
“The good news is, as more and more women are educated (on this subject), there is less reticence to negotiate on the part of themselves, so, I’m so thrilled they’ve been raised to stand up for themselves,” said Teresa Freeborn, GWLN chair and president of Kinecta Credit Union. “It’s baby steps, but I feel it’s coming, so, it’s assuring to me for sure.”