Why The Feminist Exec?

The concept of the Feminist Exec has been rolling around in my head for years.  It started as a whisper when I first realized I was a feminist a little over a decade ago, and has since grown into a a loud voice I can no longer ignore.  

In this world, there are a few facts; 1) Women make up about 50%, or half, of the population, 2) Women make up on 29% of C-level positions in corporate America and, 3) it will take nearly 50 years for women to reach parity with men at the current rate of progress. (McKinsey Women in the Workplace report, 2024). All three of those facts lead to one truth: we need to do more to support women and their progress in their careers. 

I speak from a place of experience.  I have been female all of my life, and a part of “Corporate America” for the past 15 years - after a stint in small family business after grad school.  I started at entry level, hourly wage, and have worked my way up to the executive level (not once, but 3 times), to a salary and eligible for potentially life-changing earning opportunity.  And I have learned SO MUCH along the way, about both what to do and also what not to do (some may argue those are actually the more important lessons).  I have struggled at many points throughout my career (and still do) to be seen, heard, and validated as an equal participant in the corporate culture. And I know based on hundreds of conversations with other women that this is true for them too.  McKinsey’s Women in the Workplace report for 2024 actually cites the fact that over the past 10 years, women’s experiences in the workplace have not improved, and “stands out as the area of least progress” across their study.

It shouldn’t have to be this way.

If I think back to the various stages in my career thus far, there was usually one glaring thing missing that made me feel completely alone and having to figure out everything on my own: the lack of women representation in the upper levels of all organizations, and women to which to go for advice.  There has very rarely (in my industry experience) been leading women that are both an example to follow and accessible for guidance and support.  So many of the lessons learned were truly by trial and error - and many many proverbial “foot in mouth” moments leading to embarrassment, discomfort, and a doubling down of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. 

I want The Feminist Exec to change that.  I want to show how you can be both a female and a leader.  That you can be a feminist and an executive. And for the male allies, how you can help to support the women in your world to help change the paradigm and the environment in which we currently work.  

Even if it’s one book recommendation, one tip, one inspirational quote, one story from an amazing woman, my greatest hope is to provide a glimmer of possibility to the millions of women striving for their own dreams.  My hope is that The Feminist Exec becomes a community of women supporting women, smashing the patriarchy one glass ceiling at a time, and becoming Feminist Execs, together. 

Join me, The Feminist Exec, on this journey and conversation. Follow on our social channels on the website at https://www.feministexec.com/

Smashing the Patriarchy, one glass ceiling at a time.