PERSPECTIVE: More women are taking leadership roles, and that’s good – LVB – Lehigh Valley Business

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court judge and womens rights activist, passed away this year, leaving behind a great legacy and also some very inspiring words.Ginsburg may have made the words famous but women across America are following her advice. Women are taking over leadership positions by storm.

From a governmental standpoint, 104 women are serving theU.S.House and Senate, making up 19% of Congress. This is double what it was 20 years ago.

On the business side, 26 women are now CEOs of Fortune 500 companies about5%. In 1995 there were none. And there are more women in the boardrooms than ever before.

This is happening not just on a national level. Business professionals in the Lehigh Valley are embracing women in leadership. Local organizationssuch as the Chambers Womens Business Council andMompreneursof the Lehigh Valley help to support this mission.

The Womens Business Council empowers women within the business community and provides a networking forum for professional women through events that provide professional development. Event topics include things like sales and marketing strategies, personal growth and health issues.

Mompreneursof the Lehigh Valley is a support group for moms who own their own businessandwant to connect with like-minded women, learn from each other, share ideas and collaborate. This unique group focuses on the Super Moms who balance running a business with running the household.

While women are finding more outlets to participate in business, men are supporting them in many ways. Some men in the Lehigh Valley are helping their wives run their business; others show their support by attending or sponsoring women-led events; and malebusiness owners are hiring more women to lead their teams.

In fact, more than half of the employees atour business,EBC Printing,are women.My brother, Mustafa, and Isee the value in having women leaders on the team. Last year,wemoved to a new facility. One of the goalsofthe move was to empowerwomen leadership and allowthem to have a powerful pink space to inspire them at work. The pink,ormagenta,color was added to EBCs branding colors, in addition to green.The green represent printing using sustainable methods, such asrecycled paper and petroleum free printing presses, while the magenta color represents women empowerment.

Women make upalmost 51%of the population. Having women as leaders and decision-makers is critical to advancing equality for all.

There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish. -Michelle Obama

MurtazaJafferis the co-owner of EBC Printing ofTrexlertown. He can be reached atmurtaza@ebclv.com

Original post:

PERSPECTIVE: More women are taking leadership roles, and that's good - LVB - Lehigh Valley Business