WHAT’S YOUR BUSINESS CALLED, AND WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
SheWorks! is a cloud based platform that uses cloud technology, machine learning, data science and the principles of the on demand economy to break the barriers that separate talent from opportunities. We understand that close to 50% of women leave their jobs because they cannot find flexibility to balance work and life. At the same time, that companies complain that they cannot find the talent they need, so we decided to do something about it: combining technology to help companies find talent no matter where the person lives with a platform that eliminates the challenges of remote workforce management: trust, engagement and accountability. A simple solution that connects the dots between talent, opportunities and a transparent way to work in the digital age.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND BEFORE YOU BEGAN THE BUSINESS. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO CHANGE DIRECTION?
I have held senior corporate executive roles at Visa International and Compaq Computer Corporation. I was also part of the leadership team of early internet start-up Patagon that excited in 2000 for $785 million. I don’t see this as a change of direction but part of my professional evolution that allowed me to bring together my extensive experience, passion for technology and commitment to creating opportunities for women. SheWorks! resulted from seeing the frustration of many women, the tremendous loss of talent and the opportunity to deliver a viable solution.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR PROUDEST MOMENT IN BUSINESS SO FAR?
Our proudest moments come from the real life impact, allowing women from anywhere in the world to balance work and life, and export their talent:
Natalia Duarte is based in a small town in Argentina, a decision she made to be close to her family to help take care of her daughter. Today she is working with top brands like Google, Pepsico, and SAP.
Veronica Enair, single mom from Vancouver, Canada has the opportunity to learn key skills in social media and communications all while keeping a flexible schedule – and still attending all of her son’s soccer and lacrosse games!
This year we have launched the SheWorks! Academy to help provide women with the skills to compete in a technology-driven world. By partnering with Facebook, SAP, Microsoft, Cisco Systems and Google, we are able to provide the training in skills that women on the platform need to compete in the Gig Economy.
Our recent projects include partnership with EY which aims to connect women with 100,000 job opportunities by 2020, and SheWorks! was showcased as the case study to bridge the unemployment gap at the Women 20 (W20) Summit, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The W20 is the affinity group of the G20 that advances toward gender equality.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED SINCE STARTING YOUR BUSINESS?
Our biggest lessons have come from creating and driving a business model that will disrupt the way companies work. When you bring something to the table that changes the rules it tends to be very challenging to get supporters. Most people appreciate innovation but when it comes time to implement change, most revert back to traditional systems and rules. We have been so fortunate to have had a network of valuable leaders and visionaries who have enabled us not only to get our initial funding, but have opened doors and connected to move our mission forward. They have a fantastic perspective of what the future holds for the remote workforce and therefore have championed our efforts.
HOW DO YOU STAY ORGANISED? ANY TIPS OR TOOLS?
Our focus is to redefine how work is done so location is a very relevant for us. I am based in Miami, my partner is in NY and key members of our team are operating out of San Francisco, Argentina, Canada, Latvia, and Ukraine. With the power of technology it doesn’t matter where our team is based, or what time zone we’re in, we’re able to share documents, messages, and tasks all through the SheWorks! Collaborative platform.
WOULD YOU SAY YOU HAVE A HEALTHY WORK LIFE BALANCE?
More than work life balance, what I think is important is having the opportunity to work on your own terms – from where and when you want or are able to, which is what technology does. I also know that wellness and self-care are important. I meditate every morning, make working out part of my regime and focus on healthy eating. Ultimately it’s finding what works for you to find focus.
WHAT DO YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS TOWARD YOUR GOAL?
SheWorks! officially launched in 2017 at the Global Women Principles’ Summit at the United Nations and today we can activate thousands of women on the platform. We have seen tremendous growth in the platform since then. EY joined us as a sponsor and we announced partnerships with SAP, Microsoft, Google, Cisco and Facebook. In addition, SheWorks! is committed to driving innovation in three ways:
1) Our approach to work. We are helping lead the women empowered work revolution. By empowering women and having one platform where leading brands can find talent, we are addressing an issue that is impacting both employers and women. Our goal in 2019 on this front is to continue to scale and connect more women to opportunities.
2) Our technology. SheWorks! the first online platform that leverages Transparent Business cloud technology, matching algorithms and remote workforce management tools to connect professional women with flexible remote job opportunities, to eliminate the barriers between talent and opportunities, and connect the dots between education for employability. This year we introduced AI for employers to more effectively manage work and projects. Most importantly our technology – which ensures we are creating transparency – is critical in driving trust, engagement and accountability, and we plan to further leverage technology.
3) Training and Upskilling. We want to expand our offerings on SheWorks! Academy to provide soft-training as well as provide access to certifications and additional courses.
