empow(her)
Connect. Succeed. Empower.
Propel your professional growth and get inspired to reach new heights. A space exclusively for women to connect, seek advice from other female professionals, join interest-aligned groups, and share experiences, regardless of where you are in your career journey.
Role
Personal Project — UX Designer
Timeline
4 months
Opportunity Space
A 2021 Women in the Workplace study from McKinsey and LeanIn.Org found that women face significant barriers in the workplace. The study revealed that women hold only 34% of entry-level engineering and product roles (two of corporate America’s fastest-growing job categories) and a mere 26% of first-level manager positions. As they progress in their careers, the representation of women in leadership positions decreases significantly: only 36% of women advance to Senior Manager or Director roles, with just 24% reaching C-Suite positions.
As a young woman and a recent first-generation college graduate entering the workforce, I can personally relate to this as I am currently working to navigate the corporate system and advance my career.
Personal AnecdoteThis past year I participated in a hackathon meant specifically for women. Red dots cover the faces of men who showed up to participate while green dots show the number women/non-binary individuals who participated (blue dots are hackathon sponsors). There are 32 men and 19 women.
Problem Statement
Many women in the workplace lack confidence and face barriers when trying to advance their careers or enter the workforce. There is a need for a community that empowers women, boosts their confidence, and provides them with mentors and accessible resources to overcome these challenges and achieve professional growth and success.
Concept/Goal
empow(her) is a mobile application and online community that allows women of all ages, backgrounds, and professions to connect with other like-minded women in their local area. If we can give women a platform where they can easily find others, whether it be a mentor, mentee, or even just a friend, then this is one step closer towards building that self-confidence.
Research
I interviewed 22 women around the Bay Area— a combination of professionals and college students— to collect both qualitative quantitative data about their experiences in the workforce and the corporate world.
91%
Participants use a professional networking platform (such as LinkedIn)
28%
Participants satisfied with the networking opportunities available to them in their current careers
31%
Participants felt they had strong professional connections
Takeaways
“I have been so amazed by how many people are willing to meet/chat/connect with you if you just reach out...”
“I was protective and I didn’t want to show my vulnerability. We all need mentors and I realized that it’s my job.”
“Most of my mentors were white men, none of them had kids, and it was a real deficit to me at the time. ”
“It wasn’t until I started growing my professional network that I started getting the right mentorships.”
“I feel frustrated more for the young women and the ones I’ve mentored who don’t get a lot of experience and don’t know their value or what they should get.”
“I finished top of my class, yet I still can’t move past my entry-level position.”
Affinity Diagram
Design Recommendations Based on User Feedback
Facilitate mentorship connections
We should create a mentorship matching feature that pairs women seeking guidance with experienced professionals in their respective industries. This feature will enable users to connect with mentors who can provide valuable advice, insights, and support throughout their career journeys.
Amplify Voices of WOC and LGBTQIA+
Ensure representation and inclusion of women of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and other marginalized groups in the app's content, events, and resources.
Address Gender Bias
Provide resources and educational materials that address gender bias in the workplace and offer strategies for overcoming challenges related to the glass ceiling. Collaborate with organizations and experts to develop training modules and workshops focused on building resilience and combating gender-based discrimination.
Foster a supportive community
Therefore, we should incorporate a community forum where women can connect, share experiences, and seek advice from one another.
Enhance networking opportunities
We should integrate networking functionalities, such as virtual meetups, industry-specific groups, and professional events, into the app.
Address imposter syndrome
We should offer resources and interactive exercises designed to address imposter syndrome, such as self-reflection prompts, guided affirmations, and success stories from accomplished women.
User Flow
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Final Design
First-Time User Experience
The goal is to create a personalized journey for each user. Upon signing up, the app asks insightful questions to understand the user's interests and field of expertise. By tailoring the user's feed based on their preferences, empow(her) ensures that the content and interactions are relevant, engaging, and align with the user's professional goals.
Moreover, to foster meaningful connections and mentorship opportunities, the app suggests individuals to follow who share the same field or interests as the user. This feature encourages a sense of community and empowers users to engage with like-minded professionals, forming valuable connections and further enriching their experience within the platform.
Repeat User Experience
At login, existing users land on the dynamic feed page, where a diverse and vibrant community shares their valuable thoughts and insights. Engaging content, thought-provoking discussions, and relevant updates from those they follow greet the user each time they return. The evolving nature of the feed keeps users coming back for more, fostering an enriching environment that inspires learning, mentorship, and continuous growth.
Messaging
In empow(her)'s user-centric approach, the Messaging feature offers a seamless and intuitive experience for users to connect and engage with mentors, peers, and like-minded professionals. With a user-friendly interface, users can easily initiate conversations, exchange valuable insights, and seek guidance within a secure and private messaging environment. The messaging system's well-designed notifications ensure timely responses, encouraging meaningful interactions and fostering a supportive community that thrives on the power of knowledge sharing and mentorship.
Prototype
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Conclusion
Empow(her) and its online community present a promising solution to address the significant barriers women face in the workplace. The positive impact of empowering women in the workplace extends beyond individual career advancement; it ripples throughout organizations and society at large. With increased representation of women in leadership positions, diverse perspectives and innovative ideas can flourish, leading to more inclusive and equitable workplaces.
Looking ahead, a version 2 of empow(her) holds tremendous potential for further enhancing its impact. Incorporating AI-driven matching algorithms could facilitate even more meaningful connections between users, while expanding the platform's reach to encompass other geographic regions would widen its influence and support even more women.
In conclusion, the journey towards achieving gender equality in the workplace is an ongoing one, and empow(her) represents a crucial milestone in this pursuit. While there is still so much more to do, by creating an inclusive and supportive community that empow(her)s women and provides them with the necessary resources, we can pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future.
lilahunterreay@gmail.com