It’s Time for Gender Equality In Management: These Online Courses Can Help.

Here’s a troubling stat—today, women hold only 38% of manager-level positions. Experts say the culprit is a “broken rung” at the first step up to manager.

According to the 2019 Women in the Workplace Report by Lean In and McKinsey & Company, the broken rung means more women get stuck in entry-level positions, which leads to “early inequality that has a long-term impact on the talent pipeline.” The issue is even more pervasive for women of color. 

But we’re seeing signs of change. LinkedIn Learning data shows that at the start of 2020, women are 47% more likely than men to take a course on leadership and management. When women invest in growing their skills, they’re not only investing in their own career, but they’re paving the way for all women to step up as leaders. 

And that’s good for business. Research shows that the presence of women in corporate leadership can improve profitability.  

The time is now to break the cycle of gender inequality in management. Check out these courses by powerful women to take the reins and be part of the solution. 

#1 Finding Sponsors

There’s a difference between sponsors and mentors, says instructor Rashim Mogha: “a mentor is somebody whom you talk to, and a sponsor is someone who talks about you.” And that makes them important champions in helping you get promoted, push past challenges, and advance your career. 

This course teaches you: 

• How to find sponsors who “hold the purses to the power”—both inside and outside of your organization 

• How to approach a sponsor and invest in the relationship

• How to get clear on your goals and ask for what you need from a sponsor

#2 Leadership Strategies for Women

Getting more women into leadership roles isn’t about changing or “fixing” women. It’s about creating environments where women can thrive. In this course, Carolyn Goerner and Daisy Lovelace aim to help both women and men overcome the gender bias that is crippling too many workplaces.

This course teaches you:

• How men and women speak and listen in very different ways—so you can avoid misunderstandings 

• How to choose roles that highlight your skills and help you shine beyond “office housework”

• How to navigate the double bind—yes, you can be both assertive and likeable!

#3 Fighting Gender Bias at Work

Whether it’s deliberate or unconscious, gender bias makes it harder for women to get hired and promoted, and holds them back in the workplace. Coumpounded discrimination can put women of color or LGBTQ women at a particular disadvantage with less access to manager support. 

This course from LeanIn.org teaches you:

• How to recognize the five most common biases women face

• How to move from seeing to doing—and take action to counteract these harmful biases

• How to speak up when you see bias behaviors 

#4 Returning to Work after a Leave of Absence

Getting more women into leadership positions will pave the way for more working parents to return from family leave and continue a successful career. 

More than half (64%) of hiring managers recognize that there are obstacles that make it challenging for mothers to advance in their careers after a break. But if you plan effectively, it will be a win for everyone involved. 

Taking that time away is a gift—for you, for your family, and for society at large, say instructors Kelley Biskupiak and Susan Rietano Davey, who are both four-time moms. 

This course teaches you:

• How to understand your leave of absence rights and benefits

• How to communicate your leave to the right people at the right time

• How to create a work coverage plan

• How to return to work with confidence, including setting work-life boundaries and negotiating a flexible work schedule 

Every female leader who invests in growing her skills is also investing in repairing that broken rung—for all of us. When you put in the time to learn, you’ll gain the confidence to speak out, push past bias, and rise up as a leader. 

But building a more equitable, inclusive, and collaborative culture isn’t a job for women alone. Courses like these are a great resource for women leaders—and the men who work with them.