Hall of Fame 2022

Hall of Fame 2022 Honorees

kodo nishimura red shoe movement hall of fame 2022
Irma Olguín Jr., CEO and Co-Founder BitWise Industries

Red Shoe Movement Hall of Fame 2022

In 2022, as we hit the second-year anniversary of the worldwide pandemic that has affected us in so many different dimensions, we renew our commitment to promote gender inclusion. Our Red Shoe Movement Hall of Fame 2022, celebrates people who are truly moving the needle to create inclusive cultures both in the workplace and in the world at large.

While we live in a new reality where hybrid workspaces have become the norm and flexibility is equally being embraced by people of all genders, it’s still a challenging time for under-represented groups. As Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging and Openness make their way into more and more organizations, unfortunately the need for more education and acceptance of others remains very present. That’s why it’s more important than ever to recognize individuals who are making invaluable contributions to the evolution of our society and our companies. To those who show the way to a more equitable future.

Thus, in 2022, we honor a group of inclusion leaders who are influencing large multinational organizations and founding impactful start-ups. Leaders who are at the intersection of Buddhism and fashion and those who have taken twists and turns in their careers searching for more effective ways to create inclusive cultures. From the U.S. to Japan and everywhere in between, we searched the world for the people walking the talk.

Or, as we like to say of our Hall of Fame honorees, leaders who walk the walk.

Kodo Nishimura, Buddhist Monk and Makeup Artist

If you could suggest one action that organizations can take to speed up their commitment to represent women at the top, what would it be?

I think it is important to provide supplemental resources for anybody who needs extra support. For example, mothers might benefit from having better access to childcare; LGBTQ+ people might benefit from having gender-free restrooms and changing rooms as an option. I think providing as many considerations as possible for each group will help them feel seen. This sentiment will help not only women but all people to believe in their value more, which will result in success.

If you could suggest one action women could take to accelerate their career growth, what would it be?

I would encourage women to connect with others who are going through similar situations. Oftentimes, we think that we are the only ones suffering with specific problems. But by opening your concerns to like-minded people, you can combat the problems with multiple brains. For example, to break barriers, it was crucial for me to connect with other homosexual friends who understood my situation well. Together we are stronger.

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Irma Olguín Jr., CEO and Co-Founder Bitwise Industries

If you could suggest one action that organizations can take to accelerate the representation of women at the top, what would it be?

Hire and promote people for their potential. Women — really, all marginalized groups — get less opportunities to “prove” their value than their straight, white, male peers. And when you hire based on proven experience, you are leaving a lot of talented and worthy people behind because they aren’t given the same opportunities. If someone has drive, intelligence, and has shown grit, they are going to be a more innovative problem solver/larger asset based solely on their potential.

If you could suggest one action that women could take to accelerate their career growth, what would it be?

Don’t self-select out of situations that aren’t built for you. It can be really hard to enter spaces and work environments that were intentionally designed to keep you out. Don’t let that stop you. If you can find a place that welcomes you, that’s ideal. But, if you are curious about learning a new skill and the institutions designed to teach you are unwelcoming, refuse to leave. If you can fill a seat, your visibility will inspire other women, and soon you can create an inclusive space while advancing your skill set.

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Georgene Huang, CEO & Co-Founder at Fairygodboss

RSM – If you could suggest one action that organizations can take to accelerate the representation of women at the top, what would it be?

GH – There are no silver bullets nor quick, overnight fixes. Otherwise, there would already be more women represented in leadership and management roles today. Representation in leadership roles of diverse talent is a systemic (and social) problem that requires active investment in fair and equitable recruiting and hiring practices as well as a deep, hard look at company culture, practices, and policies. Ultimately, management must believe it’s important to focus on this and expect that as a multi-faceted problem, it will take time to implement change.

RSM – If you could suggest one action that women could take to accelerate their career growth, what would it be?

GH – Whether you’re a woman or a man, if you aspire to leadership you need to become comfortable with taking risks and operating outside your comfort zone. This means embracing the possibility and likely fact of failing and having the resilience to learn from mistakes and pick yourself up to move on. Take on the most challenging assignments and roles you can.

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Robert Abreu, VP Global Head Tech Risk for Corporate Solutions, Goldman Sachs

RSM – If you could suggest one action that organizations can take to accelerate the representation of women at the top, what would it be?

Robert Abreu – Sensitize the organization’s leadership to the common stereotyping of women, the language that’s used to describe women’s behaviors specifically, and the impact of having predisposed ideas of what a leader looks like.

 

RSM – If you could suggest one action that women could take to accelerate their career growth, what would it be?

Robert Abreu – Take positions that make you feel uncomfortable, that are challenging and push you to lead and evolve as a leader.

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Iris Zemzoum, President Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, Novartis

RSM – If you could suggest one action that organizations can take to accelerate the representation of women at the top, what would it be?

IZ – Many biases exist around the hiring, promotion, and retention of women in the workplace. These range from the perceived availability and time commitment of women to their levels of engagement with work. Some of these are unconscious biases that are deeply ingrained in people as well as society, and unintentionally influence behaviors. We need to make sure that organizations acknowledge and break down these biases as they can hinder the representation of women in the workplace and in leadership. That they’re adopting policies that are flexible and innovative in how women can contribute to the workplace.

As a business, Novartis is championing solutions in the workplace. The company has pledged to achieve gender balance in management and further improve our pay equity and transparency processes. We’ve made progress on this front, with women making up 51% of our overall workforce, 46% in management, and 31% of our Board of Directors.

RSM – If you could suggest one action that women could take to accelerate their career growth, what would it be?

IZ – Have confidence and belief in yourself! It is important to be explicit about your vision and ambition, and to be active in progressing your career. Know what you want and be bold in pursuing it.

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Red Shoe Movement Hall of Fame 2022 Credits

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