March is Women’s History Month and in celebration of women, I want to let you know about AIIM's Women in Information Management group and how we are supporting the information management community.
In 2019, I sat in on a panel with several other women in the information management industry at the AIIM Conference in San Diego. The goal of the panel discussion "Women in Information Management: What's This All About?" was to promote the newly formed AIIM Women in Information Management (WIIM) special interest group and explore issues facing women in this industry.
We were asked "What do you want to accomplish with WIIM and why is it important?"
I remember sharing my personal reason for wanting to form WIIM --- I wish I’d had something like WIIM when I was younger. Typically, I am often the “only” woman in the room and the only person who has a vested interest and skills in Information Management. Being the "only" in a room full of colleagues can be a lonely road to travel.
Despite often being the “only” woman physically present, I know that I have a group of supportive women behind me who are willing to stand up with me and for me. They are the ones who pick up my “phone-a-friend” calls.
WIIM is a network of women who provide technical help as well as perspectives for how to handle life’s challenges that are unique to women. I am grateful that post-pandemic, WIIM is once again meeting and working together as a group.
It's been 4 years and as I look around the AIIM community, I see a fairly diverse group in terms of gender, ethnicity, etc. However, when I look to our leadership ranks, including Fellows and Board members, it’s a largely male population. The speakers’ rosters are largely male as well.
Women in IM face the same challenges as in other industries.
Looking to the McKinsey report on Women in the Workplace 2023, women suffer from broken rung syndrome where they are promoted based on performance at a higher standard than their male counterparts. Women are almost equal in numbers of entry level hires but fall off dramatically with each step up in the ladder. According to the study, women make up less than 32% of VP or higher level jobs.
The AIIM State of the Industry report doesn’t segregate the data by gender. However, if our membership is largely below VP level (7%), you can assume that there are a large number of women within AIIM's ranks who want to grow their careers and "climb the ladder."
AIIM’s State of the Industry Report for 2023 also showed that only 14% of the respondents were under 30 years old. If we want to attract, and retain, younger talent into the industry, we’re going to need to provide them with support systems to help them grow and thrive. WIIM is that support system.
I want to help elevate and diversify the industry and our association by being a champion for other women. I want to mentor and help with presentation skills or anything else that is needed to ensure that women of all ages are being supported.
WIIM is meant to be a safe space for women to seek help, whether they are in need of technical skill development; help in writing a submission to a call for presentations; or need some advice on how to integrate life and work.
The work and our lives are changing. We need each other to thrive. You can join WIIM by becoming an AIIM+ or AIIM+ Pro Member and joining the WIIM Community.
WIIM will be hosting two sessions at the AIIM Conference 2024 (#AIIM24) in San Antonio, April 3-5. You don't want to miss this opportunity to connect with other women in information management at #AIIM24. By attending #AIIM24, you will also have access to a innovative solution providers, peer-to-peer networking, interactive workshops, forward-looking keynote presentations, and inspiring case studies. If you are focused on better leveraging organizational data and information, #AIIM24 is a must-attend event. Learn more and register at https://www.aiimconference.com/.
April 3, 2024, 3:40 PM-4:10 PM CT
Join Women in Information Management (WIIM) and me (AIIM Fellow Candace McCabe) for a fireside chat with keynote speaker Carla Howard. Women often struggle to find the balance between being kind and ambitious and that struggle creates habits that reduce our self-confidence. In this special conversation, Candace and Carla will explore how small changes in the way you communicate will set you up to be more influential, promotable, and trusted while creating stronger connections.
Join Women in Information Management (WIIM) for an interactive roundtable discussion about the current state and future state of women in information management. We'll also discuss the future of WIIM and what AIIM can do to improve diversity amongst information leaders. All women and allies are welcome to this conversation.