Fortune brings us some insight from an athlete — and the president of the world’s largest deposit bank — on how athletic participation and the lessons learned while playing a sport can help women succeed in traditionally male-dominated careers.
The MPW Insiders Network is an online community where the biggest names in business and beyond answer timely career and leadership questions. Today’s answer for: “How do you excel in a male-dominated industry?” is written by Karen Peetz, president of The Bank of New York Mellon.
fortune.com – A recent Ernst & Young/ESPN W survey showed that 94% of C-suite women played a sport—52% at a university level.
This was no surprise to me. I consider my experience as a field hockey and lacrosse athlete at Penn State University foundational to my professional success. It taught me about equality, competition, and grit. It helped me get to where I am today: president of one of the largest financial companies.
Women can borrow lessons from athletics to help them succeed in industries traditionally controlled by men. Here are some I’ve found to be incredibly valuable in my 34-year career:
Be assertive
Diversity in talent starts pretty equally when women enter the workforce, but drops off at mid-management and continues to decrease the higher you look in an organization. To change that, high-potential women need to speak up. Articulate myths or prejudices you want to dispel.
Earlier in my career, I knew one way to advance was through international experience. At the time, most of the management team assumed my husband, young twins, and I would never relocate. In reality, my family was supportive and up for the adventure. I lobbied hard for a move, and eventually earned a position leading a business in London. If I hadn’t spoken up, I might still be waiting for my chance. Just as in sports, visualizing your goal and desired outcome is key to career success.
