By Thea Voutiristsas
In an interview with Vanity Fair on Wednesday, Google CFO, Ruth Porat explained how beneficial hiring women can be for a business. “This is not just the right thing to do socially,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do for your business.” Porat points out that businesses actually function better when they have a diverse staff, saying, “I’ve been encouraged by the data that supports the thesis that businesses actually perform better when you have diversity of view in your senior leadership position(s).”
But how do we get women into these positions? She says later in the interview, “The toughest part of all, is how do you bust through subconscious biases? … What is it that along the way makes it harder for women or other groups to think that they have a seat at the table?” Porat suggests doing research, and remaining transparent in the results, pointing to Google as an example. They’ve run the numbers and they can see what areas in their company lack diversity. In doing this, companies can highlight where these biases lie, and find a way to escape them. Her suggestion of remaining transparent makes it easier to sidestep the subconscious biases that many in positions of power will carry with them. “Let’s use transparency to start a conversation,” she said.
On her own success and inspiration, she said, “My mom worked and I would say that gave me a sense that you could be successful professionally and have the life that you wanted.” Porat spoke on the importance of having role models and leadership throughout the interview, and how those things played an integral role in her career. “It’s very easy for women,” she explained, “and other underrepresented groups, when you’re in a senior position to not realize how broad your reach is and you as a role model.”