Ladies in Leadership

Less than two months ago, the world watched as Kamala Harris became the first woman sworn in as Vice President of the United States. This historic moment spurred fresh conversations about how our society views women in positions of power, the unique balancing act they perform between home and work life, and the challenges they still face to be seen and heard as leaders. In celebration of Women's History Month, now is the perfect time to chat with some of the 40 women in leadership at Carnegie Learning to get their perspectives on these old, yet still timely, topics.  

Carnegie Learning leaders Carla Weiss and Afreeka Miller are both poised to offer solid career advice to aspiring women leaders. 

Afreeka, a Regional VP of Professional Learning, shared her thoughts. "If you truly want to be a leader, lead from where you are right now. You can compete, so don't shy away from opportunities. Believe in your abilities. make sure you know why you want to lead, and seek out learning opportunities."

Carla, our Quality Assurance Manager, who has risen through the ranks of a traditionally male-dominated field, advised women to "Speak up and be seen. Know what you want, and work hard to stand out from the crowd.”

Chi-An Chien and Marissa Scalercio also shared insight on the challenges women face as they progress in traditionally male-dominated industries. 

Chi-An, our Senior Engineering Manager, looks toward the future of females in leadership. She says, "I think more of the conversations are going to shift from 'How many women leaders do we have?' to 'Are we treating all leaders the same? Are they getting into the C suites? Are their voices being heard? How are they being criticized? Are they being held accountable for things that a man in the same position would not?' It’s not sufficient to check a box saying we have enough women in our company."  

Director of Sales Operations Marissa Scalercio also recognized that female leaders will probably face inequalities throughout their entire career. So, it's important that women "work for companies that recognize the inequalities exist and champion for women and other minorities.”

While society has definitely warmed to the idea of women in the workplace, the reality still keeps women in a tough situation. Janet Irwin and Julie Katruska pinpoint the uniquely female experiences they've encountered.

Janet, Director of Growth Marketing, explains, "I stepped into a leadership role after returning from maternity leave, and finding a work-life balance wasn't easy. Expectations that come with being a leader don’t change if you have an infant at home, and you have to figure out how to balance the demands of work and home while finding time for yourself. But motherhood has made me more resilient and empathetic, and those soft skills influence how I lead my team.”

Julie, Chief Financial Officer, speaks to universal leadership challenges as well as hurdles specifically faced by women. "I think challenges that women face in leadership are really what everyone faces as they move into leadership role. As a leader, you must find your own voice and advocate for your beliefs. Still today, as you move up the ladder, you may be the only woman in a meeting. Advocate for yourself and stay confident in your abilities.”

We're proud to say that these six women are just a few of the ladies in leadership at Carnegie Learning. And, while our 63% female workforce is certainly something we're proud of, we know that the fight to achieve true equity goes beyond the numbers. Here's to the ladies paving the way for countless women to rise through the ranks behind them.