Ellevate Portland connects women for courageous conversation
Growing up with two older brothers meant that I’ve always been comfortable as one of the few females in the room. As a financial adviser, I even saw this as an advantage, a positive differentiator.
I soon realized, however, that it was not enough to be comfortable holding my own or being superficially unique. I wanted to be valued for my difference in approach, thought process, and perspective.
Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be space for it.
There’s no doubt that issues of gender equity are nuanced. In my practice, I’ve seen that women are hesitant to be active participants in their financial lives for fear of appearing anything less than smart and accomplished.
This idea that vulnerability is weakness translates further into how we navigate our professional lives. My own experiences with what I identify as gender equity issues at work led me to seek out (and later create) safe environments within which to share my insecurities and frustrations.
