While women comprise the majority of workers in the language industry, studies show they’re underrepresented in top leadership roles. But the path toward a more equitable share of responsibility starts one position at a time, including at Ciklopea with the installation of Ivana Barišić Oharek as chief operating officer (COO).
Already a company of women leaders with founder and CEO Sandra Boljkovac Stojak at the helm, Oharek is a Ciklopea veteran who brings deep expertise and company familiarity to her promoted role.
”She possesses a unique blend of operational expertise and a deep understanding of our company’s values and purpose. As chief operating officer, Ivana brings experience and vision, as well as expertise in the company’s daily operations. Her focus on individual team members, dedication to open communication, and commitment to team success make her an indispensable leader within Ciklopea,” Stojak said.
It’s a step in the right direction for an industry still working toward a more equal distribution of high-level positions reflecting the ratio of male and female language workers. According to a study by CSA Research, with 70% of respondents were female, men are overrepresented in leadership positions.
“Roughly even numbers of men and women work in upper management, showing that men are proportionally more common in positions of authority and women are less likely to advance to top management positions,” a CSA Research blog summing up the report states. “Men and women generally receive equal pay if they are in the same positions, but women are far less likely to reach the best-paying positions.”
“The global language industry is frequently considered to be female-dominated,” CSA researcher Arle Lommel adds in the blog. “Our results confirm this perception. However, despite the fact that language professionals tend to be female, a male employee is almost twice as likely to have an upper managerial (including executive) position than a woman is.”
Progress comes one step at a time, however, and with Oharek’s promotion at Ciklopea, company leaders are more confident than ever that a new era of productivity is right around the corner.
“With Ivana as our COO, we are confident in Ciklopea’s ability to achieve even greater milestones and continue delivering innovative solutions to the market,” Stojak said.
