Being a successful woman doesnt mean a seat on the board Viewpoint careers advice blog

Being a successful woman doesn’t mean a seat on the board Women throughout history have literally put their lives on the line to enable women like me to have equal opportunities in the workplace. I am lucky enough to live in a place and a time where I genuinely feel that being female does nothing to hinder my career progression. So much so, that in the past, I have often felt guilty about not fully utilising those opportunities afforded to me.   But the simple truth is this; gender equality and female empowerment means freedom of choice. If a woman strives towards seniority and a seat on the board, fine. If a woman strives to spend more time with her family and put her career second, fine. If a woman strives to maintain the equilibrium between her career and family, also fine. When a woman is being honest with herself, and crafting her goals based upon true self-reflection about what she wants, as opposed to societal pressure, she is living the values of female empowerment. This understanding, is the reason I stopped seeing a seat on the board as the pinnacle of being a successful career woman a long time ago. Here’s what I learnt along the way: Your path to success is not linear Like many young professional women starting out in their career, I believed there to be an undeviating relationship between earnings, seniority and career success. Heavily influenced by the conventional definition of what it meant to be a successful woman, I felt driven to pursue this very linear path. Yes, I wanted to enjoy my job but a large part of that satisfaction was tied up in money. I also felt I had to keep moving forward, without ever really stopping to enjoy the current victory. The more promotions I received and the more I was paid, the more successful I felt. Your definitions of success will change over time Once I reached my early 30s, I came to the conclusion that I personally needed greater career fulfilment. I wanted to feel proud of what I was doing and passionate that I was making a difference, and to me, this was my definition of being a successful woman. As I entered my 40s, my priorities, and my definition of success, once again shifted. I still wanted a career that was challenging and stimulating, but I also wanted to be able to devote time and energy to my family, and strike a better work life balance. I am ambitious for both my career and family but if I have to choose, then family wins, period. And I know that is true for many of my mid-life professional friends. I want the best of both worlds and this means a bit of give and take. If I’ve been away on a two week work trip, I will happily go and watch my daughter in her school assembly and arrive late to the office. At this stage in my life, success for me means finding equilibrium between my home life and my career, and maybe it will change again. Like their predecessors, the pioneers of female empowerment around the world are continuing to fight the good fight towards defying gender stereotypes. But what they are fighting for is the freedom for women to choose their own paths, rather than be confined by convention. For this very reason, I gave up the idea that being a successful woman meant a seat on the board, and instead crafted my own meaning, based upon what I wanted from my career. Your classification of success won’t be the same as mine or any other woman’s. But as long as you remain authentic, honest and impervious to any outside pressures, then you are by nature, your own definition of a successful woman. Here are some other Diversity  blogs that may be of interest: Four ways women can be braver, bolder and more successful The one trait that female leaders need to remember Five women leading the way in the life sciences Ease the guilt: Tips to balance work and family for mums AND dads