The “glass ceiling” for women may contain a few more cracks these days, but there is still work to be done to achieve equality in the workplace.
Arlington’s Cheryl Lytle is participating in a seminar to help her and others break through barriers and lead the way for women throughout the state.
Providing opportunities for women is a goal of Wisconsin Women in Government (WWIG), which has offered scholarships to Lytle and 23 other women, who will participate in the 10th Annual WWIG Public Policy Graduate Seminar program. Offered in cooperation with the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the goal of the program is to provide management and leadership training to women working in state and local government, and those working in the private sector who interact with government.
The six-week course runs from Jan. 23-Feb. 16. WWIG President Grace Cudney said the participants selected are “committed to continued careers in Wisconsin government.”
“Through this course, women are able to gain valuable management, networking and leadership skills,” she said.
Lytle, who was raised in Poynette (her parents are Norm and Judi), has worked for the Wisconsin Grocers Association since 1999, where she regularly interacts with government as the events director. Since 2003, she has assisted WWIG in event planning. She hopes the seminar will help her add skills and knowledge to do more work in the future.
“I would like to continue with association management and representing industry interests in the state capitol,” she said. “It could be on regulations, or legislations or questions they have about our association.”
Next month, Lytle and her colleagues from the grocers’ industry will meet with lawmakers in Madison during “Capitol Day.”
“It will be fun,” she said. “It’s an interesting education, and you feel you can make a difference to go and meet with elected officials.”
Outside view
Lytle said current topics in her industry are minimum wage, increasing taxes and insurance, among others.
“We have two lobbyists who watch these issues, and I’m hoping after this course that someday my position will grow, and needing to know more about government issues and how the whole machine works,” she said.
Lytle said the seminar will cover topics like examining characteristics of leadership in business and government, and how what are thought of as more “feminine” traits can be used by effective leaders.
“Men are still statistically leaders in this work, but the world is changing, and women are making a little bit of change when we look at leadership,” she said. “Listening, empathy, building relationships – there is a female advantage there, and if we hone these skills, we will be better leaders.”
Many of the women in the group work in government, so Lytle said she will bring an interesting perspective of someone who works in industry with government.
“I can bring to the group a different point of view of how government works, not from the inside, but say, ‘Hey, I’m trying to represent a group of businesspeople and this is what they run into,’ and hopefully I’ll learn from the others a good look of the inside of how government runs,” she said.
Lytle said she’s talked with people who have gone through the seminar before, and they told her “you just blossom.” She said she’s looking forward to not only the curriculum, but building lasting connections and friendships with the other attendees.
“There are some fantastic women in this class, and they are also saying, ‘We’re in the same group,’’ she said. “These women really bond (during) the course, and hopefully we’ll really get to know each other and those relationships will hopefully carry on for the rest of our lives.”
