Leighanne Lankford

Women are vital to the workforce. Yet we still face more difficulties than men do throughout the course of our careers, from gender-based discrimination and pay gaps to stereotypes and glass ceilings.

When it comes to productivity and well-being in the workplace, culture matters. It affects everything from associates’ stress levels to their engagement level to how long they’ll stay with a company.

In 2020, my company officially became certified as a woman-owned business. It was a lengthy process — but after reviewing the benefits of it, I sprinted to earn the credentials. If you’re a business owner, you may want to consider obtaining certification as well.

Leading a successful company is both rewarding and challenging. There’s plenty of work to be done, from driving the success of the company and its clients, to building and maintaining its culture, to offering meaningful employee engagement and opportunities for learning and growth.

From a leader’s point of view, keeping employees engaged and productive is top-of-mind. I see it in my specialized staffing company, which has been 100% virtual for 23 years and in clients’ companies.