On International Women’s Day, we are reminded of how far we’ve come in terms of the leadership gender gap, but also of the long road still ahead. In this article, we will take a look at how remote work is accelerating the career goals of working women and helping them burst through the glass ceiling.
Do you know what percentage of startups are female-founded? Just 17%1. Rather depressing when you consider women are now earning more college degrees than men. Aptitude isn’t the issue here - so what is?
The rationale doesn’t seem to be lacking either. There are many reasons to have women in C-suite positions, but perhaps most notable is the impact on profits. Studies have shown that companies with a c-suite containing at least 30% women enjoy a 15% increase in profits vs. companies with none2.
Taking these factors into account, one might assume that the gap will continue to close at pace, right? Sadly not. The workforce gender gaps (gaps in pay rates and the number of women business leaders), on the whole, are not improving. When it comes to the gender pay gap specifically, the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) ‘Global Gender Gap Report’ estimates it will be over 200 years before women achieve gender parity.
Change is needed to expedite improvements.
Could remote work facilitate a paradigm shift in the right direction?
Remote.co completed research on the CEOs and founders of 128 mostly or fully remote companies3.
They found that remote companies seem to have a higher percentage of women in these leadership roles vs. traditional office-based companies. Great news! But what are the factors behind these encouraging statistics?
3 Reasons Why Remote Work Is Helping Women Challenge the Leadership Gender Gap
1. Remote companies are less likely to conform to the traditional ideas of what a “leader” looks like.
History has embedded the notion that leaders are more typically male. When the face-to-face environment of bricks-and-mortar companies leans towards valuing face-time in the office over results, this notion persists.
But remote companies shed these conventions. Leaders working remotely have more time to run teams effectively and produce results without worrying about what leaders “look like” within the confines of a physical headquarters.
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“Leading remotely is about rewriting the script. It's not about fitting into predefined roles but creating an environment where teams excel organically. This flexibility defines my approach to effective leadership.”
Elina Zoi, Co-Founder & Head of Community at Boundless Life.
2. Obligations are balanced with greater ease.
Women are still the primary caregivers for children, elderly parents, or other dependents. The inherently flexible nature of remote work allows for the focus to, quite rightly, shift to results. Remote work creates an opportunity for women to balance personal responsibilities - whatever they may be - and career advancement, without their loyalty or commitment to their career being called into question. Dedication is not measured based on time spent at your desk.
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“Thanks to remote work, I've been able to enjoy the best of both worlds - advancing my career while spending quality time with my family. Our travels to different countries, immersing ourselves in local cultures, and trying new things together have been an absolute GAME-CHANGER for our little Magon Family unit.
It's incredible how much deeper our bonds have become, as we've shared unforgettable experiences, overcome challenges, and created cherished memories that will last a lifetime. Whether it's trying new foods, shopping at local markets, or exploring new areas, we've enriched our lives in countless ways. Remote work has not only allowed me to achieve the elusive work-life balance but has also positively impacted our family dynamic, in ways that I could never have imagined.”
Rekha Magon, Co-Founder and Head of Education at Boundless Life.
3. The impact of the choice between ‘work-life’ and ‘family life’ is mitigated.
The relative inflexibility of traditional office-based companies means women are often facing the difficult choice of whether to prioritise career over family or vice versa. The outcome of such choices often results in a feeling of guilt either way!
Remote work, on the other hand, introduces the levels of flexibility required to manage these conflicting priorities more effectively. And, let’s face it, women are masters of multi-tasking and will deftly juggle a business call during the school run. 😉
“For me, there's been a stark ‘before and after’ working remotely. Pre-Boundless, I used to work in London. 2 hour’s commute every day, not being able to pick up the girls when they were sick, and having to rely on an au-pair. That was very tough as a mum.
Now knowing that I can be present for what matters, when they need me - and not only for dinner and bedtime - makes a massive difference.
Remote work = flexibility. Flexibility to attend a talent show, flexibility to be there when they're unwell, flexibility to pick them up and hear all about their stories right after school when they're not (yet) tired and want to connect.
I would never go back. And having 3 daughters, I want that future for them!"
Elodie Ferchaud, Co-Founder & Head of Demand Generation at Boundless Life.
In addition to supporting more women in leadership roles, remote work offers very real bottom-line benefits to companies too. Remote work shifts a company's focus towards studying results, improving processes, and maximising productivity.
Remote work isn't the only solution to the ongoing gender gaps in leadership and pay of course, but it should be one piece of the puzzle. And it’s not a solution that has huge benefits for women alone. All companies should make it possible for all workers -women and men- to better balance work and life’s responsibilities, through remote and flexible work options.
Boundless Life is a change leader in the topic of remote work and an advocate for all women (and men) seeking to avoid unacceptable compromise in the ongoing work/life balance juggling act. So many of the families who have spent time in one of our locations have commented that they have seen their productivity increase whilst, simultaneously, achieving a more balanced lifestyle, and clock-up much more quality time as a family unit.
“We are leaving our first Boundless Life cohort feeling like we really know our kids and that we are closer to them and more present with them than we have ever been. We leave feeling closer to our physical community and the people who make it than we have in our adult lives. We leave with dozens of learnings around how we can show up better for our family and our community going forward and we are grateful for all of it.”
The Janssen family
We would like to wish all the superhuman women within our community a very happy - and successful - International Women’s Day. You are an inspiration!
Citations
1 - 17% of startups are female-founded
2 - Increased profits in companies with at least 30% women in c-suite
3 - Remote.co study of the number of women in c-suite roles for remote companies
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