How female support can aid career growth

Women still have tremendous strides to induce in the workplace. A recent University of Phoenix investigate shows that girls are still underrepresented in leadership stances, and more than half of Americans say they have not worked for a company with a female CEO or business owned. Regrettably, these stats aren’t as shocking as they should be.

Because there are so few of these leaders, some girls may feel like they have to compete with each other for one of the top spots. But instead of vying against each other, girls can work together to breach that mold.

Mentors can have a positive impact on the attitudes of those they’ve taken under their wing, encouraging them to achieve big things. This could be extremely helpful for women trying to make it in male-dominated fields. It’s sometimes an uphill battle, and having someone on your side that provides a boost of confidence can be a real game-changer.

That is why it is so important that when women break down barricades of entry, they help pull other women with them in their ascending.

These three women, all proud alumnus of University of Phoenix, are evidence of this.

Image: University of Phoenix

Dawn Wilson

Criminal justice is a tough battleground to begin with, but it can be even more difficult for women as this workforce is still overwhelmingly male.

However, the employment numbers didnt deter Dawn Wilson when she decided to pursue a career in law enforcement, something she had aspired to since age 11.

Wilson achieved her dream of becoming a police officer when she was sworn in with the Johnson County Sheriffs Department in Kansas at the age of 25.

She speedily discovered that her training officer, Vicky Huck, would become one of the most influential people in her career.

“I learned from her, ” Wilson says. “I managed to follow in her footsteps as a training officer of new deputies, then as an instructor of suicide prevention, cultural diversity and CPR.”

When Huck was promoted to the rank of sergeant, Wilson was right in line behind her. Deputy Huck now Sergeant Simpson had a massive influence on Wilson’s career, so she used proud represented at her retirement.

Mentorship is best where reference is passed on to someone new. So when Wilson was allocated as a personal trainer to Melissa Ward, a new recruit, she knew it was her time to go from mentee to mentor.

“Melissa reminded me of myself when I was her age, ” she says. “I guided and encouraged her, helped her investigate and watched as she excelled in the police academy.”

Even when Ward was injured while doing a physical fitness exercising, Wilson built sure she didn’t give up. She regained her health, returned to the academy and became an officer in 2013. The two are still close, even through career and life changes.

Image: University of Phoenix

Brandi McAlexander

Through a lot of hard work and finding, Brandi McAlexander earned her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration at University of Phoenix in 2015. She later earned a position as a Senior Executive Director of Corporate Renewal at Shumway Holdings in Albuquerque, NM.

Since being hired, McAlexander has proven time and again that she’s an asset to her team. In just two years, she has more than doubled the amount of existing Medicare Home Health Companies under her employer.

Through it all, she was lucky enough to have an astonishing mentor in her former boss, Dawn Brooks. The Ceo of San Juan IPA, Brooks helped McAlexander to navigate her own path toward similar success.

“Her story gave me said he hoped that I could be as successful as she was, ” McAlexander writes via email.

Brooks was always there to offer advice and give warnings about potential challenges in McAlexander’s career path, and she still does the same today.

McAlexander is also paying it presented to others who want to excel. She currently tutors two women who are studying for the California First Year Law School Exam.

In addition to helping students, she consults girls about building career changes. She lately spoke to a neurologist who is facing her own specify of challenges while attempting to fulcrum within her career. McAlexander says she worked with this woman to be submitted with possible boulevards she could take, including affecting legislation that pertains to the medical field.

Above all, McAlexander understands how essential sisterly subsistence is.

“It’s ever nice to have someone help you, give you advice or just listen when youre building career decisions, ” she says.

Image: Beckys Blissful Bakery

Rebecca Scarberry

In the midst of personal woes, including job loss, Rebecca Scarberry took the steps to begin Beckys Blissful Bakery, where she uses the business knowledge she gained while get her degree at University of Phoenix.

Her bakery and specifically the gourmet caramels she makes has earned her numerous honors. Scarberry has received The Milwaukee Business Journals 40 Under 40 Award, the Business Journals Eureka Award and the Pewaukee Chamber Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She was also honored with the Spirit of Service Award through the University of Phoenix Alumni Association.

But it wasn’t ever so “blissful.” At the start of her career, she faced a lot of challenges in operating her business, including pushback from a male investor who simply did not share her priorities.

So she turned to the talented women in the business community around her most notably Lynne Keckeisen, an associate from the Wisconsin Womens Business Initiative Corporation( WWBIC ), and Amy Scerra, the founding fathers of Think Global Institute.

Keckeisen was a soothing existence for Scarberry, offering advice and counseling even in the most stressful instants. Meanwhile, Scerra rendered encouragement and assistance, and became like household to Scarberry. Together, these women helped to induce Becky’s Blissful Bakery the success they all knew it was capable of being.

When she was up and running, Scarberry says she knew there was a bigger task for her to do: assist other women.

Now she donates her time to numerous induces, including the WWBIC. She is a speaker who offers insight into business subjects, like marketing and overcoming hardship.

“One of the most rewarding things I get to experience now is helping others. When someone calls me, or emails me asking for help, direction, resources or advice, thats what “its about”, ” she says.

Scarberry also has some words of wise for any woman out there trying to make it on her own.

“Take the time to get adequate funding, find a mentor, understand the different phases of business and surround yourself with an legion of trusted people to protect yourself and your business. Specially if theyre women.”

---

For important information about the educational debt, earnings and completion rates of students who attended this program, visit the University of Phoenix website .

Watch next: Inspiring daytime security guard pursues his passion at night

Read more here: http :// mashable.com /