In celebration of International Women’s Day, Teleperformance hosted a virtual event that highlighted the struggles and triumphs that women leaders face given their unique roles of being both leaders at home and at work.
Shared in a
livestream on the Teleperformance Philippines Facebook page, the event aimed to
engage participants in a discourse on problems and possible solutions to the
glass walls women face in their careers on a daily basis, along with how to
juggle their dual leadership roles. Organized by TP Women, topics such as
work-life balance, the importance of having men as allies and creating a gender
inclusive corporate culture were discussed through panel discussions and a
pledge for gender equality.
Leadership in two
arenas
Women continue to face many cultural and social barriers that can prevent them from pursuing leadership roles. According to a report by LinkedIn Opportunity Index 2021, almost half of Filipino women (46%) working from home have struggled to juggle work and family life during the pandemic, especially working mothers. Similarly, 42% said their duties at home are a barrier to their career development.
Meanwhile, a 2020
study conducted by ILO with Philippine companies on human resource challenges
on attracting and retaining high performing talents, work and family flexibility is important to a Filipino career woman, more
so, a determining factor if she will accept or be prompted to leave a job.
To help women be more effective leaders both in the home and workplace, representatives of TP Women offered these five tips:
Equip yourself with the right tools & ask questions
To encourage other women to be their authentic selves, leaders themselves need to be equipped. “Try and study what you don’t know,” advised Michelle Carbonel, Senior Director of Recruitment Sourcing Department. “Self-knowledge is very important. Don’t be afraid to ask your team questions on how you can help them and what goals they would like to achieve to create that safe space for them.”
Never be afraid to acknowledge your accomplishments
“As women, sometimes, we could be a bit meek, and we want to be a 150% confident before we step it up or before we lay down our cards in any setting. So I dare everyone to really think about their accomplishments and don’t be afraid to let the world know about it,” said Ellora Du, Contract Center Manager. “No one else can celebrate your success except you, so grab every opportunity that presents itself. Boost your confidence and make known to the world what women are capable of.”
Know your Strength
“Always remember you have a voice,” said May Cordeta, Director of Training. She reminded women not to be shy to bring their ideas to the table and to create that conversation with themselves that they are good enough. “Nothing is too big or too small and the only one limiting you is yourself. Make sure you are heard and empower yourself to make your presence known,” shared Cordeta.
Create clear boundaries
When it comes to work-life balance, Tanya Famador-Japitana, Executive Vice President of Client Operations believes there should still be a certain time spent for work, for family, and for oneself. “Set clear boundaries and be intentional with your time – this would help improve your mood when you are with your family, leading to a better you at work as well.”
Decide what you want to do for yourself and know that it’s okay
Above all, TP Women leaders agreed that women empowerment is all about being able to choose. Affirm yourself that whatever or whoever you want to be, whether that is being a housewife or an astronaut or both, that it’s okay. “Women have the ability to decide what to do for themselves—deafen your ears on how society continues to dictate how women should act and what women should be,” Famador-Japitana said.
Also present at the event was Teleperformance Philippines’ Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management Jeffrey Johnson, who shared how his mother and grandmother, who were both strong women, showed him how capable women could be.
Launched in 2019, TP Women is an initiative that is dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women in Teleperformance, while also serving as a community and support system for women within the organization.
Spearheaded by Tanya Famador-Japitana, TP Women seeks to address women’s issues in the workplace and help drive positive change, standing behind diversity, inclusion, and gender balance and supporting equal opportunity and participation at all levels and in all aspects. TP Women is part of the company’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) program, which highlights its commitment to its people, supporting initiatives that promote women empowerment, inclusion of professionals with disabilities, and supporting LGBTQIA+ communities.
“TP Women isn’t just about women in leadership. It’s about women supporting each other and equally, about men in our organization doing their part to support individuals to maximize their potential. That’s why at TP, I’m committed to supporting all of the women in the organization and being a reliable ally to ensure that we provide equal opportunities in work, in leadership and across the organization,” said Mike Lytle, Chief Executive Officer of Teleperformance US, Canada and Philippines.
Teleperformance Philippines is the first company in the country to receive three consecutive certifications from the Great Place to Work® Institute through a comprehensive evaluation process that involved an anonymous survey of over 34,000 of their employees.
Those who want to
get more insights on women as leaders can check out this link of the event at: https://www.facebook.com/teleperformance.philippines/videos/150680063573686/
