Our Fearless Leaders Transition from Being Women at War to Women at Work
Today we honor those who have fallen while serving our country.
"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
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The US department of Veteran Affairs confirms the disproportionate ratio of men to women in the military and shares eye-opening facts and statistics of the challenges women veterans encounter after they serve our country. Because we care about gender diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we spoke with three women veterans to see what has helped some of our fearless leaders transition from being women at war to women at work.
Just like with gender diversity, there are companies making great strides to increase veteran employment in the workplace. However, since women veterans are less likely to be employed, it's essential to hear directly from those working now. Our hope is that more women veterans find employment and that companies will implement appropriate support during their transition.
Here is what these women have to say:
What's the biggest challenge you've faced at Raytheon and how did you overcome it?
"The biggest challenge I faced was the transition from military to corporate aerospace and defense culture. I mistakenly assumed that the cultures (acronyms, terminology, processes, hierarchy etc.) would be similar and I didn't realize what a steep learning curve I faced. I came from a situation where I was experienced and knew what I was doing and transitioned into a very unfamiliar environment. Change is scary and so I struggled at first, but then I realized that it was fine to accept that I didn't have all the answers and that I was new and needed to learn. Fortunately there are lots of people here at Raytheon who wanted to help me learn, grow and be successful!"
—Deborah, Veteran.
More From Raytheon:
"At Raytheon, we place an emphasis on diversity, inclusion and opportunities for all employees. One of the coolest things that Raytheon does is demonstrate that commitment to all women. There are five women directors on our board and four female vice presidents on the company's senior leadership team. In addition to those roles, there are women serving as vice presidents, senior managers, directors and several other leadership positions that number in the thousands. It's important that we talk the talk, but it's really cool to work for a company that walks the walk."
What do you miss about working in the military?
"When I was in the military, I wore a rank and occupational badge that let people know off the bat what I did and where I was in the Organizational food chain. Because of that, there was an automatic sense of deference that I received when it came to giving my opinion or ideas. However, when I took the uniform off, all people see now is a baby face and girl. Even though I am 31, I am still referred to as young lady and I have to battle my way through to be granted respect and a voice at the table. I sometimes miss the uniform because it showed my experience and expertise before I even opened my mouth."
—Jardin, USAF Veteran.
What's the coolest thing your company does to support women veterans?
"We offer a program called the "Heal Program" that heals a Veteran before they get into a crisis. We focus on healthcare, evacuation, advocacy and legislature. No Veteran gets left behind. We resolve issues concerning homelessness, unemployment, benefits, and suicides. However, the biggest problem I face is being one of a few female Veteran Executives. I'm usually the only woman at the table talking Women Veteran issues. I'm very confident and bold in stating my intent and advocacy for Women Veterans because I represent the speechless and hopeless. I overcome this challenge by waking up everyday knowing I fight for all Veterans and I can't quit or let them down. Advocacy is my passion and I live to make Veteran lives better."
—Cherissa, Retired Air Force Captain.
Here are some companies PowerToFly has teamed up with that have jobs and dedicated programs for veterans:
For more opportunities, check out our full list of jobs available now.
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Diversity Reboot 2021: The One Hundred Day Kickoff
<p><strong>When</strong>: February 1-5, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Free!</p><p><strong>Where to register: </strong><a href="https://summit.powertofly.com/" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>We had to include our own Diversity Reboot on our list of the best diversity and inclusion events to attend in 2021 because we know firsthand how the quality of 100+ expert speakers, the enthusiasm of 10,000 participants, and the cutting-edge tech that enables meaningful virtual networking and job fairs combine to create a truly epic five-day experience. This year, the theme 100 Day Kickoff harnesses the energy of the new government's first 100 days in office to help jump-start personal and professional plans to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces. </p><p>Following the February summit, we'll have a monthly series of smaller virtual summits on topics spanning everything from returnships to LGBTQ+ advocacy, so be sure to stay tuned for updates!<br></p>The Future of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2021
<p><strong>When</strong>: February 3-4, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Free</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://www.hr.com/en/webcasts_events/virtual_events/upcoming_virtual_events/the-future-of-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-2021_kcxf8glq.html#detail" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>This virtual conference put on by HR.com focuses on how social movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have pushed DEI at work beyond legal compliance and into a major factor of any company or brand's culture, employee engagement, and performance. Topics include how to uncover and resolve pay gaps across your team and hire top-level diverse talent.</p>Workplace Revolution: From Talk to Collective Action
<p><strong>When</strong>: March 8-12, 2021</p><p><strong>Where</strong>: Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register: </strong>$820</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://cvent.me/ZQ4BbE" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>The Forum on Workplace Inclusion's 33rd annual conference includes 12 session tracks, from DEI Strategy to Social Responsibility, along with 59 workshops and daily networking sessions. This year's theme focuses on one question: "What will it take to start a workplace revolution that moves us from talk to action?"</p>Diversity: How Employers Can Match Words With Deeds
<p><strong>When</strong><strong>: </strong>May 19, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register</strong><strong>: </strong>Early bird registration is $49 and general admission is $149</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://hopin.com/events/may-virtual-conference-diversity-how-employers-can-match-words-with-deeds" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Here</a></p><p>From Day One is hosting monthly conferences in 2021 focused on different ways for companies to foster strong relationships with their customers, communities, and employees. May's half-day virtual event is focused specifically on how companies can make diversity promises that don't fall flat and features workshops, panels, and a fireside chat.</p>Hire with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
<p><strong>When:</strong> August 18, 2021</p><p><strong>Where: </strong>Virtual</p><p><strong>Price to register: </strong>$195</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://www.hci.org/conferences/2021-virtual-conference-hire-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-august-18-2021" target="_blank">Here</a></p><p>This conference put on by the Human Capital Institute is one of 12 virtual conferences that HCI has planned for 2021. This one focuses on fair and inclusive talent acquisition, including how to attract diverse talent, implement inclusive hiring practices, and addressing bias in employee selection. Other conferences will focus on optimizing talent strategy, engaging employees, and developing your workforce.</p>Virtual Grace Hopper Celebration 2021
<p><strong>When:</strong> September 26-29, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual, broadcast from Chicago, Illinois</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Was $799 for regular access to the virtual conference in 2020; 2021 pricing hasn't yet been announced</p><p><strong>Where to register:</strong> <a href="https://ghc.anitab.org/attend/registration/" target="_blank">Here</a>, though 2021 registration wasn't live at the time of writing</p><p>Grace Hopper might be the best-known conference for women in tech. Through keynote presentations, networking sessions, job fairs, and community-building activities, vGHC reached over 30,000 women for their 2020 conference and are expecting even more in 2021! While not a conference focused exclusively on diversity and inclusion, many speakers plan to focus their talks on creating environments for women to thrive in the male-dominated tech field.</p>Inclusion 2021
<p><strong>When:</strong> October 25-27, 2021</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Virtual and in person in Austin, Texas as of now</p><p><strong>Price to register:</strong> Hasn't yet been announced</p><p><strong>Where to register: </strong><a href="https://conferences.shrm.org/inclusion" target="_blank">Here</a>, though 2021 registration wasn't live at the time of writing</p><p>The Society for Human Resource Management's biggest conference of the year saw 1,200 DEI leaders participate last year; SHRM hopes to see even more come to learn, be inspired, and to walk away with a playbook of implementable strategies to create truly inclusive workplace cultures.</p>AfroTech 2021
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