Yesterday, I attended a fund-raising event where Naomi Klein spoke about the importance of keeping fossil fuels in the ground, as government policy, on public lands. I agree. However, in a clever turn of phrase, she combined the words revolution and survival. “Our survival requires a revolution,” she said.
I respectifully disagree. In today’s volatile world, we don’t need more wars or revolutions. We need MORE WOMEN in decision-making positions with men – at all levels of society.
Why women? Why now?
Because most of us know at some deep level that it’s time to make a rapid transition away from a world economy based on overconsumption, competition and conflict, to a world based on cooperation, collaboration, and sustainability.
Whether the cause is protection of the rainforest, the search for climate solutions, or clean drinking water, the fastest way to change directions is to accelerate the empowerment of women into positions of leadership.
More women in leadership also comes with an economic benefit. According to a recent report by The Peterson Institute for International Economics and EY called“Is Gender Diversity Profitable? they reported that 30% more women in upper levels of management results in a 6% boost to net profit.
The report leaves this question unanswered: “Would more women mean even more profit?”
I have the answer. The answer is “Yes!” Here’s why:
In 2004, in war torn Rwanda, President Paul Kagame got approval of a quota of 30% women in Parliament. By 2012, the number of women in Parliament had risen to 56%. With women in the majority, and a focus on healthcare, education and infrastructure needs the country’s economy rose 100 points up the World Bank Index, in one year.
Today, Rwanda ranks number one in the world, at 64%, in terms of women in Parliament.
THIS, is how change happens. It’s not about revolution. It’s about balance.
It’s also about women, and how the leadership of two of America’s most powerful role models – who just so happen to be women – can restore a sense of balance, power, and vision to reunite these United States, once again.
Alexia Parks is Founder and CEO of the Alexia Parks 10TRAITS Leadership, a digital training company based in Boulder, Colorado. She offers the ONLY leadership training programs in the world based on the New Science of the Female Brain. This blog was originally posted on the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexia-parks/a-clinton-warren-ticket-m_b_10378766.html
