Women Inspiring Women: 5 questions for 6 women

In the last 50 years, the number of working women in the U.S. has gone from 27 million to 74 million. To honor their contributions during Women’s History Month, we asked five questions to six women in a variety of roles at Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. Here are their answers:

Marlene Drag

Director for Clinical Research with Companion Animals

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   These women were strong and resilient. I believe they were held to a higher standard and that they had to prove themselves at work and home. Some were working mothers at a time when childcare outside the home was sparse. They probably did not get enough credit for the jobs that they performed in the workplace or the jobs they performed in their household.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   I don’t have one particular woman, but I am grateful that when I was growing up, my family never said I couldn’t do a particular task because I was a “girl.” I grew up with two male cousins, and I thought riding motorcycles, working with tools, hunting and fishing were just normal activities for a girl or boy. I always liked science and math and never remember anyone saying that girls are not smart enough for those subjects. If they did, I guess I didn’t listen.
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   Women should know that you don’t have to prove that you can do it all. Sometimes it is not easy or smooth, but we can balance life between work and home. You can ask for help, and you are not inferior if you need assistance. You don’t always have to be perfect, and, as my husband reminds me, “you can’t fix everything.”
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
   
   Be confident in your abilities and promote them. Women should have the opportunity to attempt anything they want to try. In some jobs, there will be physical limitations, but don’t listen to restraints that others put on you. The only obstacle in your way is yourself.
    
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   I wish that this was not even a question anymore. Why do women have to be different than men in the workplace? Isn’t there enough historical information that documents that gender does not define a person’s abilities?
    

Glenda Ojeda

Head of Supply Chain at Boehringer Ingelheim’s plant in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   Women who joined the workforce before me were very brave and determined. Over the years, the acceptance of women in the workforce has been increasing, though not in all types of work. For this reason, I believe they were persistent, and that they had very strong motivations that led them to decide to use their skills and talents in the workforce. These women have left a legacy of significant contributions, not only in their respective workplaces but also in their family environments, encouraging other women to follow their own dreams and inspiring generations.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   During my 27-year career, I have had the privilege of working with exceptional women who have helped in the formation of my character, as a professional and as a human being. My first inspiration came from my mother. She built a foundation of values and modeled consistency, perseverance, the importance of sacrifices, determination, compassion, integrity and endless love. As a result of her inspiration, her five daughters were the first generation in the family to receive a formal education and go to college. All five of her daughters are now professionals.
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   I would have liked to have been able to learn earlier in my career that age, marital status and whether or not you are a mother does not determine whether you are ready to assume a position of greater responsibility. We will not always be fully prepared to face new challenges, but, as long as we have the support of those close to us, we will move forward and succeed in whatever we do. Even failures provide invaluable learnings that can help us meet our next challenge.
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
   
   All women who are starting to work should learn to see work as a service opportunity. I would recommend they start identifying who is their customer and know their expectations so they can meet or exceed those standards. It is of great satisfaction and motivation to know that people appreciate and value our work. Always stay positive and make every day a new opportunity to shine. Make an effort to inspire others and to be remembered by your integrity and ethical behaviors.
    
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   Women in the workplace are an asset of great value. We are born problem solvers and leaders, highly analytical, with a great ability to multitask. Women have well-calibrated sensors that help them perceive situations that need immediate attention before they represent a potential risk. Thanks to the variety of life experiences and our high learning capability, women bring an integrated tools box sufficient for all needs in a workplace.
    

Dr. Kate Christmas

Head of Pharmacovigilance and Technical Solutions for North America

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   I am grateful when I think about the role models who paved the way for people like me with their brilliance and courage in the face of daunting opposition. I seek inspiration from them during times of personal and professional struggles. The difference they made for me and others inspires me to do my best to make the work environment for all of us better.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   I draw strength and inspiration daily from many talented men and women in our industry, at Boehringer Ingelheim and on my team. The woman I frequently turn back to is poet and author Maya Angelou. She once said, “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” She also said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   There are no perfect opportunities, so seize the scary ones. I spent eight years in one department learning, growing, working incredibly hard – and waiting…waiting for someone to notice me, see my talents and become an advocate for my advancement. It took me learning to find and use my unique voice, reaching out to others to ask for help, participating in our Business Resource Groups to practice my leadership competencies and connecting with amazing people. Through those efforts, I became more confident about my abilities to stretch myself, pursue new roles and diversify my experience. In short, the most important thing I wish I had done earlier is be my unique self, and proudly own my space and my development.
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
   
   ​I spent too much time early in my career trying to fit in, overthinking things and trying to not be too bold or make too many waves. I came across as lacking authenticity and being substandard rather than being myself and letting my unique gifts and ideas shine and my voice be heard. It is not always easy to approach work and life that way but it should be your target. My advice would be:
    

   • Build a strong support team around you

     • As a mother of four children, my partner has allowed me more flexibility in the roles I could compete for while having a family. I have also had to make trade-offs and not go for some roles I wanted at particular times to best align and streamline family priorities and logistics. At times, my career has taken the lead in our family while my husband provided more stability and support; at other times, the reverse was true. It’s ok to redefine your priorities at different times along the journey.
   • Seek feedback from others at all levels but stay true to you and your goals.

     • Many people will have opinions about what you should do, and when. However, it will be important to trust your gut. Do what is right for you. Follow your path.
   • Support, encourage, empower and lift up others around you.

     • Do your part to pave a smoother path for those who come after you.
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   Gender balance is important for achieving our business goals. Research shows substantive differences in profits in companies that have achieved gender balance at all levels, yet women continue to be under-represented and often underpaid. Companies like Boehringer Ingelheim have to establish clear business priorities around gender balance and hold leaders accountable for results, including taking deliberate steps to create a culture of respect and inclusion.
    

Dwana Neal

Associate Director, Equine Strategic Retail Accounts

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   I am humbled when I think of women who joined the workforce before me, as I appreciate the journey of women in the workplace. Many faced limitations to career development. Today, there is more of a focus on women in the workplace. That leads to more exposure and opportunity for women.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   My inspiration started with my grandmother. She taught elementary-aged schoolchildren in a one-room schoolhouse with limited resources. She built a career dedicated to educating children. Her passion and fervor inspired me and is often a source of energy on my leadership journey. Along this journey, other women have inspired me, specifically those who persevere, maintain and own their voice.
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   The power of networking. I wish I had appreciated this much earlier in my career. Networking gives you permission to reach outside your comfort zone safely. It speaks to a growth mindset, which is important to cultivate on your leadership journey. Networking with women and men broadens your view and offers exposure. There is a saying: “It’s not what you know, it’s who knows what you know.”
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
    

   • Find a mentor.
   • Become confident in presenting your authentic self. There is nothing like being yourself in the workplace. Authenticity garners respect and trust from others. It allows you to do your best work.
   • Never stop learning – the best leaders are the best learners.
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   I wish more people knew the value of women in the workplace to help attract talent. In particular, women in leadership positions (multiple, not just one or two) signifies an inclusive and progressive culture.
    

Nikkia Starks

Head of Marketing, US Pet Healthcare

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   I’m really grateful that there were women who were courageous enough to challenge conventional opinions of women in the workplace. They opened many doors for the next generation, and I hope to do the same for those who come after me.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   I would have to give a shout out to my third grade teacher, Mrs. Hopper. I will always remember her dressed in her Kelly green pantsuit. She pushed me to be the very best version of me. She had high expectations, and she set a high bar for me because she believed I could do more. I hope I made her proud.
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   I remember graduating from business school and meeting women in the workplace who talked about “having it all.” It must have been the catch phrase back then. I wish I didn’t take that message literally. As I started to progress in my career and expand my family, I would beat myself up because I thought I had to live up to an idea of success that I created in my head. Over time, I learned to let go of that idea because it wasn’t real for me. I realized that my life was changing and some of that change made me a better employee, marketer, wife, and mom. I also learned to focus on quality not quantity. I may not get to all of my kids’ activities, but I’m fully present when I’m there. That means I will be the loudest parent on the sidelines cheering them on.
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
    

   • Don’t let anyone define who you are and what you can do.
   • Embrace the opportunities that take you out of your comfort zone and learn from them.
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   Women are changing the game in every industry. If we feel empowered and supported in the workplace, the sky’s the limit.
    

Sarah Cloud

Marketing Director, HEARTGARD Brand Products

1. What goes through your mind when you think of women who joined the workforce before you?
   
   I reflect on how lucky I am to live today, when women have the opportunity to enter the workforce. That has freed women from the economic dependency of the past. Financial freedom should not be something we take lightly. Financial independence allows for independence of thought and actions, and it allows for choice. Although today’s working woman still struggles for equality, I am glad to be a working woman today, and I’m thankful for all the progress made in the last century by so many fearless women. Women today should look fondly and respectfully on those who came before, as those women had few choices. We should hold them in the highest esteem.
    
2. Have you drawn professional inspiration from other women? Tell us about someone who has inspired you.
   
   My grandmother, Mable “May” Cloud, was a smart, industrious woman with a strong sense of who she was and what she believed. When May was 17, she left her family in Fletcher, Mo. to find a better life in “the big city” of St. Louis. She moved into a crowded boarding house and found work on the bottling line at the Pevely Dairy Company. During the Great Depression, she supplemented her low factory wage by teaching herself to style hair, becoming an expert at “setting permanent waves,” a precursor to the modern perm. She worked long days at the factory and long nights and weekends making people pretty. She never complained about being poor or having to work around the clock. I admire her for sticking it out on the factory line, knowing her wages were less than half of her male counterparts, and knowing there was zero chance of advancement for women. I admire her for starting her own beauty business. I admire that when she met her future husband, Frank, she told him marriage was not in her plans for at least five years. (She later told me she knew she wanted to marry Frank, but, at that time, she loved being her own boss more – a girl after my own heart). Grandma May broke the mold by breaking boundaries.
    
3. What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career?
   
   Perfectionism is a silent killer of women in the workplace. Socialization instills behaviors early. We reward boys for following their passions without fear; we train girls to play it safe and follow the rules, to behave in class and try to earn straight As. Perfectionism in the workplace affects women more than men. That can produce fantastic results at times, but working long-term within a prism of perfectionism has negative implications that outweigh the benefits. Studies show that women at work display perfectionist traits far more often than men. Striving for perfection negatively affects work-life balance and emotional and physical health. It also can lead to “failure-avoidance” behaviors. For example, women are often encouraged to speak up in meetings. If you perceive anything less than perfect as unacceptable, you are less likely to contradict the opinions or others, or to voice your own views. Managers need to better identify perfectionist traits early. They should promote positive traits, such as drive and meticulousness, and mitigate negative traits, like unreasonable expectations of self and others.
    
4. What would you tell young women who are just starting to work? What would you like them to know?
   
   Do not conform to ideas about how women should behave to succeed at work. Over the last 50 years, women have worked to gain entry into the workplace. The few that saw real opportunity in leadership modeled their behavior to their professional environment. The result? Women assumed “masculine” traits to get ahead. I disagree with this construct. Instead of promoting the idea that women should conform to a workplace environment, we need to change the environment itself. While I appreciate “leaning in,” I feel strongly that we need to stop telling women that their behaviors need “fixing.” A more enlightened approach would be to acknowledge that the system has inherent bias against marginalized groups. We should change that. For women who have just started working, I say “lean-in” with your inherent strengths. Do not subscribe to the belief that leadership is not in your nature. Do not believe that your lack of entry to the C-suite or the very real wage gap are somehow your fault. Use strengths categorized as innately “female” to achieve great business results and never apologize for your personality or leadership style.
    
5. What is one thing you wish more people knew about women in the workplace?
   
   Some of the biggest supporters of women in the workplace are men. I’ve had two great managers, both men, who supported me, acknowledged my strengths and took steps to grow those strengths. Conversely, I’ve worked for and alongside women who are especially destructive to other women. As a woman who grew up with four strong, smart, athletic sisters, I have a hard time relating to women who cannot celebrate other women’s success or foster female empowerment. I believe some of the female vs female animosity and ugliness in the workplace was born out of dysfunctional work environments that encouraged women to model “masculine” traits to try to get ahead. The fact is, women remain underrepresented in leadership. Companies need to change the way they hire and promote entry-level employees and mid-level managers to make real progress. The Boehringer Ingelheim focus on Accountability, Agility and Intrapreneurship shows our commitment to collaboration and inclusiveness while enabling high performance and personal growth. I encourage my colleagues at Boehringer Ingelheim to get involved through the company’s Business Resource Groups to become a part of the change they want to see.