Voice of Business Blog

The Finger Lakes Region is the birthplace of the modern women’s rights movement, and our region played a key role in the suffrage movement. From the National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House to the Powers Building, where Martha Matilda Harper, pioneer for women in business and first woman member of Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, invented the modern retail franchising model, our community is full of historic landmarks for women’s history.

While our area and the women who call it home have led to remarkable progress for the women’s rights movements, we understand there is still much work to be done. Women continue to face unique challenges and opportunities in our society and our workforce. To overcome these challenges and create an environment where women and girls, present and in the future, can grow to their full potential, organizations need to focus on efforts to empower women.

Through our Women's Council initiative, Greater Rochester Chamber works to honor the legacy left by storied female leaders in Greater Rochester and enable our members and partners to create a new generation of trailblazing women. We provide professional women opportunities to break down barriers, connect, and celebrate each other. Keep reading to see five ways to empower women in your workplace:

• Professional Development: Providing opportunities for women to upskill and learn skills to advance in their career is an important way to promote equitable promotion and inclusivity in your workplace. Consider technical training specific to your organization and industry, or one of our Chamber Academy courses for personal and professional development. Our ATHENA Leadership Institute training is designed specifically for women, with empathy-driven training tailored to your unique journey.
  
  On March 20th, Greater Rochester Chamber is hosting a full-day professional development conference for women at our 7th annual Women Empowering Women conference. Spots are filling up fast - be sure to get your ticket, or reserve a table for your organization.
• Networking Opportunities: Networking and building relationships is an important way to expand your impact. Be it industry specific groups or general business and community involvement, networking is an easy way to advance your careers. Greater Rochester Chamber has a number of networking opportunities for women coming up. Click here to see our upcoming socials for women.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: When possible, offering flexible scheduling to employees may help them balance their responsibilities at work with their responsibilities at home, including childcare which disproportionately impacts women. This can include providing flexible work hours, remote work opportunities, or other flexibilities depending on their unique needs. 
• Mentorship & Investment: Investing your time and resources in other women is an impactful way to mentor a future generation of female leaders. Be it through a formal mentorship program or casual connections - finding ways to share your expertise with future generations is important to the continued success of our community. Additionally, our Young Women of Distinction program is a way to financially support high school senior girls with scholarship awards for continued education.
• Recognize Female Greatness: Greater Rochester Chamber’s ATHENA International Awards program recognizes outstanding female leaders and female led organizations in the Finger Lakes Region. To see our 2025 ATHENA finalists across three categories and identify ways to support their missions, see our awards publication. And, be sure to keep an eye out for our 2026 ATHENA Award nominations and applications coming soon to find opportunities to recognize women within your networks and organizations who are advancing the cause and paving paths for other women to follow.

While celebrating Women’s History Month in March is important, this work should be continued all year around. To learn more about our Women’s Council initiative and identify ways to get involved, please contact Director of Events, Training, & Affiliates Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com.