Courtesy of Shelby Weinger, pictured on the right

Seeing herself in a leadership role was a daily goal for sales director and Grosse Pointe North Alumni Shelby Weinger, and being hired at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan was just the first step. Having a job consisting of mentoring and assisting her employees allows Weinger to ensure Michigan residents receive appropriate healthcare, but this isn’t always easy. According to the World Economic Forum, only 37% of leadership spots are occupied by women, which can lead to higher standards that can be difficult to fill. 

According to Weinger, communication is no exception to these high standards. In her experience, Weinger highlights that people in an office setting tend to overreact to a woman speaking in a way that they wouldn’t if she were a man. 

“What I’m trying to get across is that there is more at stake and more things that women have to consider than others,” Weinger said. “I think one of those things is that you have to be direct without being pushy or that you have to walk a line of finding a way to communicate.”

While noting that there hasn’t been an improvement in sexism in the workplace, Weinger explains that there is more recognition of an attempt to end sexism. 

  “I would say unfortunately, I don’t think I could say it has gotten better,” Weinger said. “There is [an] awareness that wasn’t there 10 years ago, thanks to social media and thanks to different movements that have happened, but there is kind of that other divided side that has gotten worse.”

Although Weigner believes women still face hardship, she emphasizes the importance for women to believe in themselves and acknowledge their full potential.

 “Just finding a way to own it and be confident about your opinions and knowledge,” Weinger said. “There’s a place for you and that you’re capable, I think would be the main thing for women entering the workforce.”

Although difficult, Weigner expresses a positive to being a female in the workplace, being able to connect with female employees on a personal level and helping her co-workers to feel valued and appreciated.

“I would say from a female perspective, women are uniquely positioned [to]  have a lot of empathy for people in certain situations,” Weinger said. “From a leadership perspective that helps drive a positive work culture, where employees feel heard and respected.”