Building the new SHEconomy

It took a global pandemic to introduce flexibility and balance to the workplace. The ability for some women to work from home initially presented itself as a boon to women who have struggled to find work-life balance for decades. But, the flexibility hasn’t been enough to offset the economic toll the pandemic has taken on women in the workplace. Women’s participation in the labour force has plunged to its lowest level in decades. As employers reintroduce on-site work, women are forced to choose between giving up some of the balance they have gained from work-from-home and their caregiving responsibilities. Young women entering the workforce are facing the additional challenge of navigating the perception of in-person work as being more present while establishing their boundaries.

As they look to the future, employers’ recent willingness to embrace some models of hybrid work and flexibility with working hours offers some hope. But, how do employers create practices that honour women’s caregiving needs while supporting their career advancement and how can they build workplaces that support new standards for wellness? At a time when political consensus around the best ways to support women’s participation in the economy remains elusive, how can employers and policymakers redefine the labour force to advance gender equality?

Presented by Economist Impact and sponsored by Wellesley College, this virtual panel discussion convenes business leaders and policymakers to contemplate a new status quo that supports women in the workforce.

Speakers include:

Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former U.S. secretary of state
Jennifer Hyman, CEO and Co-founder, Rent the Runway
Paula A. Johnson, President, Wellesley College
Andrea Jung, President and chief executive, Grameen America
Ann Mukherjee, CEO, Pernod Ricard USA
Moderator: Charlotte Howard, New York bureau chief, The Economist