Five ways women can stand tall in the workplace… With or without the heels

If you take a look at the numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you might think women have it good in the field of public relations. Over 61 percent of the PR industry is made up of women; however, even in this female-heavy field, not even a fourth of the boardroom roles are occupied by women. Men are dominating the leadership positions of the industry across the globe, and have been for the entire history of the field.

So what’s a woman to do if she wants to see herself at the top of the corporate ladder one day? Taking a page or two from the working women in the industry, here are five of the top ways a woman can advance herself in her career, as told by some of the very women who have. 

1. Remember your value

As a minority in world of leadership, women often forget the kind of value they can bring to a boardroom. Outside voices are telling them they should settle for the entry-level positions and let the big boys tackle the real work. Emilee Wolfe, head of the interfaith department at LDS Public Affairs, emphasizes that confidence is key in overcoming insecurities about reaching high. She says, “As we learn to gain affirmation and confidence in what we have to contribute, we will naturally seek a seat at the table and pursue opportunities to advance with self-assurance and enthusiasm.”

2. Make the most of your opportunities

Career advancement has a lot to do with seizing even the seemingly small and insignificant opportunities that may arise. Lisa Hannum, president and CEO of Beehive Strategic Communications, remembers making the most of her early work opportunities. Oftentimes, it seemed like she was only in the room for the sake of gender diversity, and not because she was truly appreciated for her talents. She says, “I could have resented knowing I was filling the gender quota, but I used it to my advantage. Before long I was in a position to invite a lot of other women into the room.”

3. Build relationships—Not just networks

The importance of networking is one of those things nearly every PR student gets beaten into them. But Wolfe gives a different perspective on how women can make more meaningful and lasting connections in the workplace. She says, “Networking often adopts a one-sided mentality of ‘what can I get from you?’ rather than ‘what can we gain together through this relationship?’ Doors have opened for me in my career as I have built meaningful, two-way relationships with those around me.”

4.  Find your passion

Believe it or not, climbing the corporate ladder is going to take hard work and sacrifice. But Jamie Lynn Sigler, co-creator of J Public Relations, notes that every obstacle is worth it when you are passionate about what you do. She says, “It’s a glamorous job, [but] to be really successful in our field you have to love what you do and be willing to sacrifice for required long hours and being constantly connected.”

5. Never stop learning

Even if it feels like opportunities for advancement are far from view, one thing a woman can always do is continually seek out knowledge. Hannum says one of her greatest strengths is being a learner, and encourages women to seek out the resources that will keep her informed; particularly about women’s issues. She says, “I’m a sponge for content and ideas. Some of the most interesting women-centered content I’m enjoying right now are podcasts.”

While the male to female ratio in the industry isn’t going to change overnight, women need not think they don’t belong in leadership. With a healthy dose of confidence, and a whole lot of passion, the women of tomorrow are set to change history in the field of public relations simply by standing tall and joining the ranks of people who are leading it.