Impact of COVID on Women and Advice for Students
As we all know very well by now, staying at home is not super easy. Our world (particularly since the Industrial Revolution) has been driven by capitalism and materialism, both of which encourage constant movement. Whether or not you’re a fan of this trend, you are affected by it. This is precisely why staying at home now makes us feel like we’re trapped. As a society, we have become accustomed to constantly doing something, whether that be going to work/school, hanging out with friends, or attending events and conferences. We rarely take the time to step back and care for ourselves or even spend time with our family.
While we are all struggling with COVID, different groups are experiencing the effects in different ways. For the sake of time, I just want to focus specifically on how women are affected by the current pandemic as they are typically the primary caregivers in most households. When the world was still functioning as usual, women were able to, to some degree, separate their work life from their home life. While at work, they could completely invest themselves in the task at hand and at home, they could have a bit more time and flexibility with their family. However, now that most people are working at home, this is becoming increasingly more difficult. Not only is the home-work line blurred, but since schools are out as well, women must now balance their caregiving responsibilities with their work. This can be incredibly challenging and we wanted to hear from two powerful business women first-hand about their experiences with this transition and if they have any advice for students right now. Here’s what they have to say!
Sarah Kowalevsky is the Associate Director for Development at the Alberta School of Business.
Jean McClellan is a Partner in Consulting & Deals at PwC Canada.
What has your experience with COVID-19 been like (i.e. working from home, being a parent, job description/tasks, etc.)
Sarah Kowalevsky: The adjustment for me was challenging, I finished work in the office on March 13 and my first task was to go to Costco for groceries. My bill that day was larger than ever! Our family had groceries to last us a month (and no I didn’t buy TP that day!). I have two kids, one in grade 5 and the other in grade 2. We found out that Sunday that the kids would not be going back to school. March 16 was the beginning of an epic week - working from home, homeschooling without a plan (because the teachers didn’t know yet) and a husband who was working around the clock to ensure that his company didn’t go under. My brain has been getting a workout and I am surprised it hasn’t fallen out of my head yet! I am learning what I am good at and what I am not (like being a teacher - heck no!) and still have trouble establishing boundaries. Everyday gets a little easier and thinking back, our family has eased into the transition quite well. Recently, my husband and I were discussing a way to make things work without having to put our kids in daycare. I feel that this will be a conversation that will be much easier to have now.
Jean McClellan: I lead a national team that is focused on the human side of business at PwC. Prior to COVID-19, I travelled across Canada every week to visit various clients. As a result of the social distancing measures, I have been home for three months which is my longest stretch in 8 years. COVID has changed my work and home life in significant ways. With respect to work, my days are just as long, but what I do is very different. In the past, much of my day was related to movement – travel to different cities, travel to client offices, movement throughout our offices to meet with my team. All that movement has stopped. As a result, I have had much more time to book virtual meetings with my team and clients.
On the home front, I have a very balanced household and because I travel, parenting and housework is shared in our house. As a result of COVID, I saw that shift. The burden of parenting tasks (i.e., virtual school) and more of the household duties fell to me because I wasn’t leaving the house even though I was working the same amount. We have had to have an open discussion on that.
What has been the most challenging aspect of moving online and having to limit your interactions with others?
Sarah Kowalevsky: I am an extrovert by nature, so I get my energy from people. While seeing people over Zoom is a good alternative, it is still very draining. My attention span is really limited to about 30 mins. After this point, I start to get antsy and tune out. I’ve had a couple of 2-hour meetings where I needed to shut off my video and listen while I do the dishes or something. Those meetings can’t be productive in retaining any amount of information. I choose to have more meetings with less time in them and it seems to work for me. In my other life, I am a lead vocalist in a cover band so moving online is killing me because the band is unable to perform. Unfortunately, there is no online platform that can accommodate rehearsing either (due to latency) so we can’t even practice. This would be one of the things that moving online has impacted the most, next to not being able to give my friends and family a big hug.
Jean McClellan: It’s interesting. I have had more interaction, rather than less in my work life. I have been able to reach clients and team members more in a virtual world than ever. It has been important to use best practices in those interactions to make the connections effective. For example, making sure that I have my camera on to create human connection.
In my home life, it has been hard to not see friends and family. We have used virtual meetings
and ‘driveway parties’ to bridge the gap but I have to admit I have been very happy to see social distancing rules relax a bit for families. It is also nice to see a bit of hustle and bustle in the business community as we see retail stores opening more and more.
How do you stay active and remain engaged with the world around you (i.e. career-wise, staying in touch with loved ones and colleagues, etc.) right now?
Sarah Kowalevsky: In some ways the pandemic has brought certain relationships closer. My husband’s family is still in Manitoba, and I feel that both sides have made a better effort to connect online. There are even some friend groups that I am getting together with that I am not sure we would if we were in the old normal because schedules would have gotten in the way with kid’s activities, etc. We get together online for wine with our best friends every Friday and it’s amazing that we can spend 2-3 hours connecting. We have a small church group that we meet with every Thursday as well, and it’s been fun to get to know a whole different group of people there as well. At work, I meet with my team weekly and with one of my colleagues every second day. G-Chat is a great quick way to send someone a quick message to let them know you are thinking of them.
Jean McClellan: Staying active has been a real challenge for me. I established a daily workout routine, but it still has not made up for the daily walking I did in my day to day life. I have had to build in ‘walking meetings’ into my schedule and be very careful about my diet.
Online parties have been a mainstay to keep in touch with my team, family and friends. I also make sure to go outside everyday. Fresh air has been a must to maintain my mental health.
What do you think will be the biggest change for students in the Fall 2020 Semester? How will this affect their job hunt and future career opportunities?
Sarah Kowalevsky: Any news that I have heard to date is telling us to prepare for online delivery in the fall. I think the biggest change for students is that they won’t physically be going to campus anymore…at least for a while. Being able to hang out and build those memories in a classroom, the library or in the student club space won’t be possible, particularly for new students coming in who have never had the opportunity to experience those spaces. I still think that students will be receiving a fantastic online education, the School will take good care of that. What could be affected are the student experience activities like events, tours and conferences. Students will need to make sure that they participate creatively online to their fullest to ensure they get the networking skills so important to their future careers.
Jean McClellan: While only time will tell, virtual learning will be part of the dialogue moving forward. The virtual learning that has occurred in the past few months is ‘basic’ and there is a potential for so much more. The challenge for students is to have a voice in how they want to experience online learning and work with educators to use new tools, methods and techniques.
In the short term, it may be tough to find employment. There are a number of government supports to encourage employers to hire students that will help. It will be critical for students to be creative and tenacious. In the long term, things will work out for those who stay strong and continue to learn and build their skills. While COVID has presented a new challenge, the global economy has always moved through ups and downs. When I graduated from university, the world was in the middle of a downturn. There were jobs for about a third of the graduates that year. It was tough, but it made us more resilient. When the next downturn hit, we were able to think proactively and succeed in spite of it.
5. As the world is heading into a global recession and the job market is contracting, what advice would you give students who are starting off in their careers? Is there anything they can do to make themselves more competitive?
Sarah Kowalevsky: I recently came across this article 8 Job Skills to Succeed in a Post -Corona Virus World. I think there is a lot of helpful information here. Last year, I worked in the Faculty of Arts for a while. One thing that I learned that their students do really well is execute good critical thinking skills. Not that Business students don’t, but in the Arts, there is a different view that they take to learning. I can’t really explain it! However, I think more collaboration could take place across faculties. Perhaps our Business students could consider working with Arts students to learn from each other. Competitiveness will come in the areas of communication, networking, writing and being able to build relationships with others. Marks are only one piece of the puzzle. Students should take any chance they can to build these skills. Make genuine connections anywhere you can, you never know when they will come in handy.
Jean McClellan: It will be important to understand the business that you are applying for beyond just the job and link your skills and experiences to how you can be of benefit to the organization. Stay positive and be solution oriented. Employers are dealing with a myriad of problems right now and you have to be part of the solution. Continue to build your network and learn how to be productive in this virtual world. You can still put yourself out there with ‘virtual coffees’ so don’t use social distancing as an excuse not to network and learn.
Is there anything else you think students should know about the COVID-19 crisis and how they can prepare for the future?
Sarah Kowalevsky: I think we all need to remember that this won’t last forever and that we need to stay positive, even when it is tough sometimes. I was recently speaking with one of the School’s donors who was recalling his early life during WWII and the Great Depression. Yes we are cooped up, but we don’t have bullets whizzing by our heads and we can still get something as simple as a chocolate bar…delivered to our house! Use this time to build upon the skills that they don’t teach in the classroom. Reach out to people you know to make introductions for you so that you can establish your networks. Ask for help when you need it. We all want to see our students succeed and will do all we can to assist in that success. And remember the basics - say thank you! Your leadership will shine through even if you don’t have the chance just yet to be in the corner office. You will get there, give it time, learn, ask lots of questions and don’t rush your growth. You will get noticed.
Jean McClellan: Make sure to keep a pulse on your mental health. We have all gone through a trauma. If you are feeling tired, angry, frustrated, or sad, it is all normal. It’s important to learn what keeps you well. For me, I have to exercise daily and get outside to recharge my batteries. It may be different for you. Recognizing when you are in a ‘red zone’ is important so you can take action or seek help. As you move through your career, you will have points that are ‘too much’. Cultivating your resilience and self-care routines now will be a skill that you can use throughout your whole career.
