ACW’s Vice President, Akilah Murrell, highlights the ongoing challenges women face in career advancement, particularly due to the “broken rung”—the lack of equal promotion opportunities in early management roles, especially for women of color. This disparity, emphasized in the McKinsey Women in the Workplace 2024 report, limits leadership growth. Nike’s 2025 Super Bowl ad, “So Win,” featuring athletes like Caitlin Clark and Sha’Carri Richardson, captures the resilience needed to break these barriers. To drive change, companies must implement mentorship, sponsorship, bias training and inclusive policies while fostering allyship and accountability. Organizations like the Alliance of Channel Women (ACW) provide crucial support to empower women and ensure equitable career advancement.
IWD 2025: Winning Against All Odds: Defying the Broken Rung
