We are a group of immigrant daughters, Black women and women of color (BIWOC) who support female university students and young professionals from similar backgrounds. More than 1500 women (we call them "swans") profit from our free scholarship-support program including workshops and webinars, career councelling, systemic coaching, an application check as well as a community platform, where we share and exchange vacancies, scholarships and other career-related information.
Black women and women of color are grossly underrepresented in the German academic job market. A study by economist Doris Weichselbaumer for the Bonn Institute for the Future of Labour, women with headscarves had to apply 4.5 times more often than applicants with German names and identical CVs in order to be invited for an interview just as often. For professions with higher qualifications, the difference even rose to seven times - not to get a job, but only an interview.
SWANS tackles workplace inequality from two angles: Firstly, we provide empowerment and capacity-building for women from marginalized communities. We share career-related information with our "swans", empower and connect them with each other, building a professional network - a "Lions Club for Leylas". Secondly, we are a prominent critical voice in German discourses on the labor market, diversity and inclusion. We speak as experts in the media, at conferences and with employers.
We are providing women from immigrant families and BIWOC with information and access about unwritten rules, job applications and a professional network from the very beginning of their career. By simultaneously raising awareness in the public and with employers, we are turning Germany into a true meritocracy, while equipping our "swans" for careers as a new generation of highly qualified women from marginalized communities in the academic workforce. Our mission: More Leylas in leadership.
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