Portrait of successful female business team in office. Multiracial business group standing together ... [+] and looking at camera. Getty Images Women are advancing, generating enormous value for firms, innovating extraordinary products and business and financial models, and moving forward – despite the political headwinds. You might not know that from the plethora of media coverage of the anti-diversity movement, That coverage is vitally important, but it’s not the whole story. Companies know that women in leadership drive revenue, growth, profitability, innovation and recruitment – and women are seizing opportunities. Women in leadership create cultures where people want to work, too. A LinkedIn study, for example, found that “76% of employees and job seekers said diversity was important when considering job offers” and that “80% of survey respondents said they want to work for a company that values DEI issues.” Contrary to the companies cowering in the face of political pressure on DEI, ““60% of employees want to hear business leaders speak up on diversity issues,” in that study. Benefits of diversity to companies, ... [+] https://learning.linkedin.com/resources/learning-culture/diversity-workplace-statistics-dei-importance Screenshot, LinkedIn.com So, this Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating valuable advice from women who are advancing today, and in energy, climate, sustainability and ESG – environment, social, governance – careers and industries. What women can do to boost their careers today Here’s advice from five women trailblazers in different sectors who shared it on Electric Ladies Podcast recently. They include: MORE FOR YOU Trump Delays Mexico, Canada Auto Tariffs For One Month—Here’s How The New Levies Could Impact Prices Supreme Court Orders Trump To Pay Out $2 Billion In USAID Funds: Here’s Where Trump’s Winning—And Losing—In Court Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Wednesday, March 5th Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, a nonprofit that’s helping companies certify the financial commitments they make to environmental causes; Bjork Kristjánsdóttir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International that’s converting CO2 into energy; Gauri Singh, the Deputy Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency; Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., who co-hosts a BBC show on AI and talks a lot about climate and AI; and Majora Carter, a renowned consultant on building equitable, climate-resilient communities. Step Up before you’re ready – and notice opportunities that might not be obvious Kate Williams, 1% For The Planet Kate Williams, 1% For The Planet “A couple things. One is, step forward and step up before you think you might be ready.… Becoming a CEO or C-suite can be one way that you progress, but you can also just become really deeply knowledgeable in a particular area.… Sometimes as women and just as humans, we can maybe hold ourselves back. So, I would say, step up before you’re ready.…(S)upport appears when once I’ve taken the step…." The other thing is stay open to serendipity…We may forget that serendipity is sometimes how the opportunities that we get to step into are shown to us…. So, stay open.” Kate Williams on Electric Ladies Podcast Bjork Kristjansdottir, Carbon Recycling International Bjork Kristjansdottir “My advice is first, like it’s around decisions. So, we need to make decisions. Postponing making decisions puts you at the risk things will just happen to you.…And remember that, when we do make those decisions in our career, it is always based on the best information available at the time. Things may change, it doesn’t make it a wrong decision…." "What you need to do is to learn how to listen and harvest all of the potential, all of the talent around you… get comfortable with asking the right questions.” Bjork Kristjansdottir on Electric Ladies Podcast Get out of stereotypically female roles – to grow and break boundaries Gauri Singh IRENA Deputy Director-General Gauri Singh, IRENA “It’s not good to be stuck in stereotyped career roles. Many of us get into these roles, and I think it's important to break those stereotypes, whether by increasing your professional education or getting reskilled or upskilled, and to be able to do what you really want to do.” “You really need to push yourself to get out of your comfort zone, because that's what gives you growth. That's what, you know, really opens your mind to other opportunities. Every woman has within her the potential to break the boundaries. And I think these boundaries are there to be broken. “ Gauri Singh on Electric Ladies Podcast What problem are you solving? Stay nimble and curious Stephanie Hare, Ph.D. Stephanie Hare “Look at the problems you most enjoy solving, because the world is never going to be short of it… So I feel like just staying super open and nimble and curious and flexible, people recognize that that like problem solver spirit in you and you know, a little bit of elbow grease goes a long way.” “I approach every day when I'm talking with clients or when I'm talking with people in the public or through media work…What are the biggest problems that I can help you solve? And also like, what are your dreams? Which is kind of like a positive way of framing a problem. What would your ideal solution look like?...(W)hat are your key pain points? If I could remove one pain point from your life, from your business, from your process, what would that be? And those are so fun to work on.?” Dr. Stephanie Hare on Electric Ladies Podcast Recognize how much you have to offer Majora Carter Majora Carter “I think there needs to be more women stepping up and realizing that they proudly should play the game…I hear a lot of women second guessing themselves before they step out on their own. And that is what we have to recognize. We have so much to offer, and half this battle is just us opening our mouths and letting it out.” “Really be listening to people who are in, in your field. And, also quite frankly, know that there will be moments when not everything is going to be perfect, right? And there will be compromise. And that's okay. But as long as you're not at a point where you're feeling like, you've just sold your soul to somebody…But I think being realistic and practical about what you can get done, again.” Majora Carter on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women’s History Month we can harness our courage and strength – and this career advice – and know that we have a strong community of women who are thriving, and that hundreds of companies value their female talent (and customers, investors and suppliers). At The Earth Day Women’s Summit I am elevating women who are advancing energy, climate and sustainability on April 22, 2025 in Dallas, TX at EarthX2025. The Earth Day Women's Summit, April 22, 2025 in Dallas, TX Joan Michelson ElectricLadiesPodcast.com Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website. Editorial StandardsForbes Accolades