Women’s Leadership Lab Explores Workplace Hurdles That Impact Advancement

Providing a toolkit for success

The Women’s Leadership Lab, a program of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CWCC), is dedicated to empowering and educating emerging female leaders. Through the program, participants build the skills necessary to advance in their careers, influence their communities, and gain a deeper understanding of the business landscape affecting women in the workplace.

We are proud to share that 50% of the graduates from the 2023-2024 cohort received either a pay raise or a promotion upon completing the program.

Throughout their 8-month journey, the 2023-24 cohort tackled four key issues that significantly impact the advancement and retention of women in the workforce. They presented actionable solutions to address each of these challenges.

Click on the titles below to watch videos of their presentations. For a full list of resources, feel free to contact us at info@cwcc.org.

• How Allyship Pays Off – WATCH THE VIDEO
• Advocating with Purpose  – WATCH THE VIDEO
• Promoting Employee Work/Life Excellence – WATCH THE VIDEO
• Building a More Equitable & Culturally Competent Workplace – WATCH THE VIDEO

Building a More Equitable & Culturally Competent Workplace 

It’s astounding to think that not long ago, many women still needed a male cosigner to secure a business loan or open a credit card. While we’ve made progress since then, women continue to face significant barriers in achieving leadership positions and accessing business funding. Today, women represent roughly one in four C-suite leaders, an increase from one in five in 2017. But for women of color, the number is starkly lower—only one in sixteen.

Since the return to work post-COVID-19, women have been slowly regaining the ground lost during the pandemic. Career setbacks, often referred to as “The Great Shecession” and “The Great Breakup,” have prompted women to reimagine and reshape the workplace. The data is clear: systemic obstacles like broken rungs in the corporate ladder, glass and cement ceilings, and the lack of flexible work environments continue to hold women back from leadership roles. This stands in stark contrast to the increasing ambition that women show throughout their careers.

For employers, it is essential to support the entire pipeline of female talent, particularly women of color. For every 100 men promoted to managerial positions, only 73 women of color achieve the same advancement—a drop from 82 just a year ago. Our data, along with insights from our Women’s Leadership Lab, consistently show that when companies create inclusive, flexible, and supportive environments, women don’t just survive—they excel in areas from which they’ve historically been excluded.

As noted in McKinsey & Company’s LeanIn 2023 Report, “For women, hybrid or remote work is about more than flexibility. When women work remotely, they experience fewer microaggressions and feel safer psychologically.”

Yet, at a time when many companies are scaling back or even eliminating diversity initiatives, the need for these programs is more urgent than ever—particularly for women and women of color. Prioritizing inclusivity and support doesn’t just foster allyship and strengthen leadership pipelines—it also drives financial success for businesses.

The Colorado business community is uniquely positioned to lead the charge in building a workplace that works for everyone. Now is the time to deepen our commitment to allyship, inclusivity, flexibility, and advocacy. By doing so, we ensure that women are fully supported and have the opportunity to thrive in leadership roles, paving the way for a more equitable future.