My mission revolves around solving one of the biggest problems facing women in the workplace: the “broken rung,” or the failure to advance into first-level management at the critical early stages of their career.
We are tackling this problem with a uniquely designed program. FemForward provides women in junior high-tech positions with the tools, network and personal mentorship to advance. The program can be replicated in any country to address a global issue.
We have already completed four cohorts with over 100 graduates representing the incredibly diverse mosaic of Israeli society. We have a 50% average of women receiving a salary raise and/or job promotion immediately after the three-month program.
Together with the US Embassy and the UAE-Israel Business Council, we are bringing FemForward to women from the Abraham Accords countries — Bahrain, Israel, Morocco and the UAE — starting in May. I believe we will have a global impact, with more women advancing at the earlier stages and therefore more women in the pipeline to be in C-level positions – first in tech and then in other fields.
Social activism has always run in my family. My grandfather was the Lord Mayor of Manchester, served in the RAF in World War II and was a social activist for the Manchester Jewish community. It is within our blood to do good for society and not just accept things as they are.
I would love to scale FemForward so that it makes a direct impact all over the world. I’d like to see the alumni mentoring future participants as well as young girls, inspiring them to become whatever they wish to be. What has always motivated me is making an impact and seeing the results. I see them every day at FemForward.