Partner Article

Rosetta Stone VP opinions on women in business

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day dedicated to helping make a more gender inclusive world. With this year’s theme ‘Be Bold for Change’ women and businesses are being encouraged to take action to drive greater changes for women.

“International Women’s Day (IWD) is a great opportunity to highlight the growing contribution women are making to the workplace and society as a whole,” said Shari Hofer, VP of Marketing for Rosetta Stone. “High-profile female leaders are infiltrating the boardroom and even leading some countries, indicating a welcome shift in the way women are being perceived. Yet, despite this, there is still a level of inequality. In 2016, 33 percent of global businesses had no women senior management, with women occupying just 22 percent of senior roles in G7 countries.”

Shari continued by saying, “there are also certain industries that are still renowned for their underrepresentation of women. Take the tech sector, for example. According to a report from Next Generation Republic, less than 7 percent of tech positions in Europe are filled by women, which is astounding. Gender stereotypes, a lack of support and a hostile work environment can all contribute to hindering a woman’s progression in this male-dominated industry, and it’s time that this changes. And while progress is being made and should certainly be celebrated, there is still a long way to go when it comes to matching the opportunities – and pay – that men have.

“As attitudes towards women continue to shift, I call upon women to maximise every opportunity available to them. This year’s IWD theme is ‘Be Bold for Change,’ and that statement couldn’t be more fitting. Women need to be taking control and forge their own paths, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries that require a more uphill battle. Education, and specifically, language education, is key in helping to empower women – not just in the boardroom, but in our day-to-day lives. That’s one of the reasons I’m proud to work for one of the leading digital language learning companies in the world.

Shari argues that “the knowledge of a foreign language is invaluable and the impact I’ve seen language learning have on individuals is remarkable. Language proficiency improves your communication skills - in your native language, as well as the foreign language; it broadens social cultural awareness; and it opens the door to numerous business opportunities. In today’s increasingly globalised economy, having the ability to understand different languages and cultures is becoming essential and could give women the competitive advantage needed to further them in business.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Panos Kraniotis .