# Overcoming challenges faced by women in business Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-04-25 Category: BUSINESS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business Meta Title: Overcoming Gender Inequality in Business: Crucial Steps for Meta Description: Discover how women can break into male-dominated industries, tackle poor hiring practices, and inspire the next generation of female leaders in STEM. URL: https://financedigest.com/overcoming-challenges-faced-by-women-in-businesshtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/istock-1211843276-1736815842541-compressed.jpg) ![](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2da-450x395-1736815842568-compressed.jpg) _By_ **_Hayley Mooney_** _, Crayon UK General Manager_ Despite the many advances in gender equality over recent years, women still have several challenges to overcome within the business world. To me, there are three that stick out above others and changing these will be crucial to creating a more level playing field for organisations and their employees, as well as society in general. **Underrepresentation in** [key industries](https://www.financedigest.com/emptied-canopy-market-industry-outlook-growth-prospects-and-key-opportunities.html "Emptied Canopy Market: Industry Outlook, Growth Prospects and Key Opportunities") It is important we get as many females as possible breaking into male dominated industries, like the financial, science, technology, and [engineering sectors](https://www.financedigest.com/switzerlands-engineering-sector-urges-country-to-start-energy-saving-now.html "Switzerland’s engineering sector urges country to start energy saving now"). Although historically this has been difficult, women opening doors for other women – where possible and appropriate – will ensure our [ideas are on the table as these critical industries](https://www.financedigest.com/5-business-ideas-influencing-the-travel-industry.html "5 business ideas influencing the travel industry") advance. When I first entered the technology space, there were very few women in the profession and it was overwhelming going into an environment where you can visibly [see that you have little](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-weary-investors-see-little-respite-to-fed-hike-gloom.html "Analysis-Weary investors see little respite to Fed hike gloom") to no representation. Beginning my career like this taught me the importance of being relentless and passionate in my field, asking those tricky questions and ensuring that my contributions were both seen and heard. Inspiring the [next generation](https://www.financedigest.com/the-advancement-based-offing-to-upscale-the-next-generation-antibody-therapeutics-market.html "The Advancement-Based Offing To Upscale The Next Generation Antibody Therapeutics Market") of women to take STEM subjects will be crucial to tacking underrepresentation from the ground up. It is true that numbers have increased recently but there is still room for figures to grow even further – and to do this, we [must support young women at all levels](https://www.financedigest.com/2016-must-be-the-year-of-board-level-transparency-and-good-governance.html "2016 must be the year of board level transparency and good governance") of their education and encourage them to be brave and inquisitive. Many young women have a natural curiosity which feeds into STEM and as mentors, we must [allow them to be curious and explore](https://www.financedigest.com/new-tool-allows-you-to-explore-the-entire-british-coastline-from-your-sofa.html "New tool allows you to explore the entire British coastline from your sofa") potential career avenues. As an advocate for increasing female participation within the [technology sectors](https://www.financedigest.com/how-video-technology-continues-to-boom-in-the-education-sector.html "How video technology continues to boom in the education sector"), it is also important to connect young women to people from all backgrounds so we inspire the next generation of women in business. [**Poor hiring practices**](https://www.financedigest.com/preventing-poor-esg-practices-from-costing-you-investors.html "Preventing poor ESG practices from costing you investors") [Businesses that exclusively hire from one demographic or those who fit into the typical stereotype of an industry are simply restricting the growth and successes](https://www.financedigest.com/tips-on-how-startups-can-turn-their-business-into-a-success.html "Tips on how startups can turn their business into a success") of the organisation. Speaking from personal experience, diversity enhances team creativity because more perspectives can be considered, which then leads to an increased probability of finding better solutions to succeed. Not only do diverse teams tend to be more successful, but they also play a critical role in increasing the visibility of typically underrepresented groups, which has long-term [benefits for the wider industry](https://www.financedigest.com/five-industries-benefiting-from-multi-carrier-sim-technology.html "Five Industries Benefiting from Multi-Carrier SIM Technology"). [Hiring diverse teams](https://www.financedigest.com/snaptrip-com-continues-to-expand-its-growing-team-with-two-senior-hires.html "Snaptrip.com continues to expand its growing team with two senior hires") is not difficult. However, there are still many misconceptions about [diversity within the industry](https://www.financedigest.com/holding-a-mirror-up-to-the-finance-industry-on-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei.html "Holding a mirror up to the finance industry on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)"). Many think that when you are looking to hire a more diverse team, you are no longer looking to find the best candidate and instead looking to fill a quota, but that is not the case. I have found that sometimes the best candidate is not always the most academically qualified on paper. For example, when considering the grades or university [status of a candidate it’s important to look at the context of why they achieved](https://www.financedigest.com/silicon-valley-analytics-firm-fico-achieves-aws-financial-services-competency-status.html "Silicon Valley Analytics Firm FICO Achieves AWS Financial Services Competency Status"), what they did and how that may have affected their performance. Ultimately, it’s important to [realise that diversity comes through looking at value](https://www.financedigest.com/2021-predictions-realising-the-value-of-payments-transformation.html "2021 Predictions: Realising the Value of Payments Transformation") in all its forms. A more holistic approach to [hiring candidates and recognising the ability of employers to unlock potential within employees](https://www.financedigest.com/lufthansa-launches-drive-to-hire-20000-employees.html "Lufthansa launches drive to hire 20,000 employees") will help entire teams flourish. **Pay inequality** Despite the many [recent advancements](https://www.financedigest.com/recent-technological-advancements-to-propel-growth-of-the-sesame-oil-market-in-foreseeable-future.html "Recent Technological Advancements to Propel Growth of the Sesame Oil Market in Foreseeable Future") made in terms of gender equality, there is still a pay gap that needs addressing immediately. The gender pay gap should simply not exist, and as long as it does it only serves to exacerbate the variety of [challenges faced by women in business](https://www.financedigest.com/the-maserati-100-one-hundred-business-disruptors-challenging-the-establishment.html " ‘The Maserati 100’ One Hundred Business Disruptors Challenging The Establishment"). One method of tackling this would be to clearly mark salaries within job descriptions online and through recruitment channels, as this boosts transparency and makes it clear how people are being compensated for different roles. Women can find themselves being underpaid via a multitude of different circumstances, but if organisations create a culture where employees [feel comfortable in asking for a yearly wage increase or discussing](https://www.financedigest.com/necessary-lessons-in-debt-six-out-of-ten-brits-wouldnt-feel-comfortable-discussing-any-money-issues-with-their-children.html "Necessary lessons in debt? Six out of ten Brits wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing any money issues with their children") contract terms openly then this can also mitigate pay inequalities. I believe there’s a lot organisations can do to [support women and future female employees](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-manage-burnout-and-how-leaders-should-support-employee-wellbeing-tom-keya.html "How to manage burnout and how leaders should support employee wellbeing | Tom Keya"), but we need to meet these challenges head on. Tackling underrepresentation in male dominated industries is a good starting point but hiring [diverse in general will have far reaching benefits for companies](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-toughens-up-diversity-targets-for-uk-companies.html "Britain toughens up diversity targets for UK companies") – and the eradication of gender pay gaps must be a priority. This decade, [business leaders must ensure](https://www.financedigest.com/2023-supply-chain-trends-for-businesses-to-ensure-a-more-efficient-supply-chain-strategy.html "2023 supply chain trends for businesses to ensure a more efficient supply chain strategy") all employees are being treated respectfully and equally as this will achieve long term benefits for not only our society, but across a range of businesses and industries. --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---