KALISPELL – A networking group in Kalispell is taking on the issue of gender wage gaps by helping women succeed in the workplace.
The Flathead-based group, Inspired, was founded by Whitefish resident Pearl Galbraith in 2015.
Her goal was to build a network for and by professional women. Part of that was teaching women critical business skills. In its three years, Galbraith says “Inspired” has generated more than $100,000 in revenue through business connections in the Flathead Valley.
On Thursday, almost 100 women came out to one of the events at Canvas Church in Kalispell. The topic of the networking session on Thursday was how to ask for a raise. One way to do that, Galbraith suggests, is finding concrete ways you add value to the business.
“Simply saying ‘I’ve been here for x amount of years, I deserve additional pay,’ that isn’t necessarily adding value to the business. Saying ‘hey, I helped create a new customer process and SOP’s and now complaints are down. We used to have 25% complaints and now we’re down to 15%. If there are 10% fewer complaints to a business that probably directly reflects back on the bottom line,’” Galbraith says.
According to the Department of Labor, Montana women earn 69% of what men earn in our state.
“Inspired” meets the second Thursday of every month at Canvas Church in Kalispell from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The networking events are free of charge and Galbraith asks that women bring their own lunch.
Reporting by Maren Siu for MTN News
