Representation, equity, inclusion, and diversity are a huge part of our company culture.
This International Women’s History month, we wanted to highlight some of the amazing women we work with, get their thoughts on careers, life, and leadership, and share their perspectives on the work still to be done to #breakthebias. Here’s what they had to say.
1. What women have had a positive impact on you in your career or life?
“Growing up I had the opportunity to be surrounded by some very professionally prolific black women in both the medical and engineering fields. This had a profound found effect on me. It made me feel as though my professional ambitions were limitless.” —Brittney Porter, Client Onboarding Associate, Multifamily
“Probably Elastigirl. My ambition began when I heard her say, ‘Settle down, are you kidding? I’m at the top of my game! I’m right up there with the big dogs! Girls, come on. Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so. I don’t think so…..’ Taylor Swift also inspires me in my career and life with her song, ‘The Man’.” —Colleen O’Brien, Jr. Backend Engineer
“I will have to say my mother. She has always shown herself as a professional businesswoman. She has been very successful and owned her own business for about 13 years.” — Lakeisha Thomas, Customer Advocate and Escalations Manager, Customer Success (SMB)
2. Why is it important to have women in leadership roles?
“Female representation in all industries and roles is extremely important. I think we tend to underestimate how powerful it can be to see yourself in the people who are setting new records, forging new territory, or changing the status quo for the better. In addition to being inspiring and fortifying, it’s also a good reminder to critically examine the ways in which patriarchal pressures and systems still show up in our everyday lives and be intentional about pushing back.” —Danielle Simpson, Senior Copywriter, Creative
“Having women in leadership roles demonstrates to an organization that it values women’s voices in critical decision-making processes. It sets a tone for all levels of the organization. It also ensures gender diversity at the leadership level, which implies the capability for professional growth to everyone at the company, instead of a subset of people.” —Kristina McLane, Senior Performance Marketing Manager, Growth
3. How can others demonstrate allyship with and support for gender equality, especially in the workplace?
“In one word: transparency. We know we have a long road ahead to achieve equality for women. Recognizing this, giving women a voice, and being transparent about the current state is the first step to progress. First, recognize there is work to be done. Then give allies the opportunity and resources to make a difference. Invest in your people.” —Codie Sugar, Regional Sales Director, Multifamily
“First, it’s important for men to acknowledge the ideas and hard work of the women they work with. Whether that is as a colleague, a subordinate, or even a superior. Men’s voices carry weight, and when they are used to support women, we’re that much closer to true equality. Second, as a straight, cisgender woman, I also feel it is my responsibility to herald the work, ideas, and voices of my LGBTQIA+ women counterparts. Just because we identify as feminine doesn’t mean that our voices are heard equally. Just as men should vocalize their support of the women they work with, so should cisgender, straight women loudly support our LGBTQIA+ feminine counterparts.” —Jessica Fritz, Events Marketing Manager
“Recognize that biases do exist and try your best to not feed into them. Speak up, even if it’s a small comment not directed at you but you can tell that it makes a woman uncomfortable. Most people don’t have bad intentions but that doesn’t mean those exhibiting sexist behavior, no matter how trivial seeming, should stay unchecked.” —Crystal Chen, Senior Manager, PR
4. What advice would you give women just beginning their careers?
“Always look for a mentor and someone at a senior level within the company.” —Lakeisha Thomas
“My advice for women beginning their careers is: celebrate your wins no matter how big or small, share your achievements, be bold in your greatness, and know that failures are lessons on the path to wins.” —Dana Duckworth, DEI & Social Impact Specialist, People Operations
“It is important to know how to advocate for yourself from the beginning, so do your research and build a network. Get involved and don’t be afraid to ask for help or mentorship from women at any stage in their careers. I find too often women are afraid to ask for help based on titles or rank alone. Don’t hold back and press forward.” —Codie Sugar
“I once had a female Vice President tell me, ‘Take a seat at the table,’ meaning whether you are on a Zoom call or are physically in the same room, don’t let yourself sit in the back, be silent, and go unnoticed. Grab a seat at the table. Speak up when you have ideas, no matter how scary that can be. Share your ideas loudly, and don’t settle for the back of the room.” —Jessica Fritz
“Don’t give up! It’s ok to have those bad mental health days but don’t allow them to take over. Stay strong, stand tall, and keep your chin up. You are not weak for asking for help, everyone starts somewhere. Gain your strength and confidence but don’t let your pride hinder you.” —Kelsi Bozzo, Regional Account Representative, Sales (Multifamily)
“Someone once told me was just because you don’t currently have all the right competencies for a job doesn’t mean you can’t learn them. This is important because women are more likely to self-reject than men. Your career will likely change many times throughout its lifespan, and the greatest skill you can have is an enthusiasm for learning and skill acquisition itself. Don’t self-reject on account of skill gaps—self-qualify on account of learning ability.” —Kristina McLane
5. What are the ways you stay grounded and take care of yourself?
“It’s simple: I remind myself that I have to show up for myself as well that’s a part of self-care.” —Brittney Porter
“Every morning, I start my day off with ME time. I do my daily routine of making myself a nice breakfast, a hot cup of coffee, and getting ready for my workday. It is all about my relaxation and day prepping for an hour to help get me motivated. I do my best to partake in my hobbies. I draw and paint whenever I can. I enjoy playing video games and spending time with all of my animals. Don’t lose who you are, always try and make time for yourself.” —Kelsi Bozzo
“During the pandemic, I really began to appreciate how much just 10 minutes of stretching a day can greatly improve both mental and physical health. Taking the time to wind down after a workout, or even after a long day, and giving my tense muscles some much-needed restoration has really been transformative. Now, I feel like I know my body better and I don’t get nearly as sore anymore after a hard workout!” —Crystal Chen
Thank you to all the women who took time out of their day to share their thoughts, and thank you to Zumper’s zWomen employee resource group for providing a space for us to be ourselves, celebrate our wins, and grow together.
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