In celebration of Women’s History Month, we’re exploring the history of this annually declared month, the achievements of women in business around the world and how Giant Voices uplifts and supports women at our company and throughout our region.
Throughout history, women have often been the unsung (or sometimes silenced) heroes of monumental movements, accomplishments and changes that shaped and molded our world.
From the suffragists fighting for voting rights in the early 20th century to women climbing the corporate ladder and breaking patriarchal norms in business, women have fought tooth and nail to build a better world and pave the way for women today.
Every year during the month of March, we recognize, reflect and celebrate these ground-breaking historical, political, societal and cultural achievements of women through Women’s History Month.
It all started in California during the late 1970s, when the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration to generate awareness around the historical and cultural contributions of women.
After years of women and historians lobbying for national recognition, in 1980, President Jimmy Carter officially declared that March 8 was the start of National Women’s History Week.
As the movement continued to gain national and global momentum, Congress then declared March as Women’s History Month in 1987.
What was once a week-long event has transformed into a tangible and communal month-long celebration that brings women together from across the world.
At Giant Voices, we are particularly excited to recognize and celebrate the ambitious and brave women who have created opportunities for women to thrive in business and everyday life.
A Brief Look Into Women in Business
Did you know that before 1988, women weren’t able to acquire business loans without the co-signing of a male relative?
Fortunately, this antiquated and discriminatory law was eradicated when the Women’s Business Ownership Act (bill H.R. 5050) was passed and signed into law. According to the U.S. Small Business Association, women own or co-own 45% of all businesses in the United States today.
The number of women-owned businesses, as well as women in leadership roles and influential positions, has continued to rise over the last few decades.
For the first time in history, women CEOs run more than 10% of Fortune 500 companies (53 female CEOs in 2023). A monumental achievement considering just two decades ago—in 2002—that number was only 7.
While women may still have roadblocks to achieve true equality, gender equity and adequate representation in some areas, we’re excited to see the strides that women in business and leadership have made since trailblazers like Sarah Breedlove (better known as Madam C.J. Walker), Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington became renowned entrepreneurs.
Less Talk, More Action
At Giant Voices, we’re committed to fostering change and taking action to uplift, support and empower women in business. We’re taking charge in several key areas.
Building a Well-Represented Team
It’s not by design, as we have exceptional men at Giant Voices, but our team happens to consist of mostly women.
As a company that prioritizes gender representation and expanding the opportunities for women in business, we are passionate about hiring talented, creative and ambitious employees—no matter their gender or how they identify.
We believe by focusing on building a strong company culture where people—but especially women—feel acknowledged, appreciated and supported, our business and organization benefit from long-term success.
Inspiring Other Women With Entrepreneurial Ambitions
Giant Voices aims to become the norm, not the exception, when it comes to successful, women-led organizations.
Our leaders—Pascha, Lisa and Jena—are all ambitious entrepreneurs, involved community members, supportive partners and engaged parents.
They strive to be an example and show other women throughout our community and region that they, too, can do it all. Balancing your professional and personal life, while going after your dreams and achieving your goals, will often be hard but it can be done!
Supporting Women in What Used to Be Male-Dominated Industries
Historically, women have been underrepresented in male-dominated industries like mining, engineering and technology.
However, with the growth of women in business, we’ve seen a rise in women stepping into leadership roles in industries with traditionally male workforces.
Women in these fields are ambitious, goal-oriented and hardworking, and they bring a different perspective to the table. These women offer incredible value when it comes to uncovering the best way to achieve business goals.
The Giant Voices team continues to make meaningful impacts in industries that are generally male-dominated. We have proven time and again that we are experts in marketing these fields and are committed to earning trust, recurring business and delivering exceptional results.
Prioritizing Meaningful Connections with Women in Business
At Giant Voices, we work, collaborate and connect with women in a multitude of industries. From mining and engineering to economic development, technology and tourism, our team has their hands in a broad spectrum of metaphorical industry honey pots. And we love it!
Our connections with female leaders and forward thinkers like Rachel Johnson, President and CEO at APEX, Julie Lucas, Executive Director at MiningMinnesota, and Vicki Worden, President and CEO of the Green Building Initiative, (among so many others!) give us the opportunity to work together to make an even bigger impact within our community and region.
As Michelle Obama once said, “There is no limit to what we, as women, can achieve.”
Recognizing, Celebrating and Reflecting on Our Achievements
At Giant Voices, our women-led organization and team have achieved much to be proud of over the past ten years of business.
From expanding our team and moving into a larger office space to bringing on Jena Mertz as partner, seeing our work manifest as an Involta Billboard in Times Square and Pascha Apter—Giant Voices Founder and CEO—being recognized in the TCB 100: People to Know, our company has evolved, grown and accomplished so many incredible things, but the foundational structure has remained steady.
While we’re always looking towards the future and creating new goals, we also know how important it is to recognize, celebrate and reflect on how far we’ve come as a company founded, managed and operated by a team of primarily women.
