Closing the gender wage gap: Startup giving female business leaders chance to boost pay, influence

A recent report that men in New York City earn nearly $6 billion a year more than women has prompted one company to offer top female leaders the tools they need to close that gender wage gap.

Everwise is a San Francisco and New York City-based company that launched in 2013 with the mission to help professionals meet goals through matching them with mentors, peer groups and resources that meet their needs.

Using the same concept, Everwise this week launched EverwiseWomen in the Big Apple — months after successfully launching in San Francisco — that narrows the services down to women midway through their careers.

Last month, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James released a policy report that looked into the issue of gender wage gaps across the city. The report found that men in the city make a total of about $5.8 billion more than their female counterparts each year.

“You don’t have to dig very far to see that the gender imbalance at the top of many organizations is appalling,” said Mike Bergelson, CEO and a co-founder of Everwise. “It doesn’t take much effort to see that there is a massive problem.”

Through the newly-launched program — which is designed to be “the ultimate experience for emerging women leaders” — companies recommend employees to participate and Everwise puts together groups of about 30 to 50 women who are on track to reach higher levels in their organizations.

Along with attending workshops and classes with the larger group of women, they are also separated into peer groups and are then matched with mentors who work with them on development goals and share similar experiences.

“The more diversity there is the more innovation,” Bergelson said. “There is a direct correlation between innovation and creativity.”

For Julia Cline, an EverwiseWomen participant from San Francisco and director of product management at Rubicon Lans, Inc., being a part of the program has helped her build confidence and relationships she plans to hold onto even after the program ends later this year.

“Its not a one size fits all program, it’s really what I want to do to develop, how I want to add value to my organization,” Cline said. “The program gives you confidence.”

The first group of EverwiseWomen launched in New York City last week, with plans to put together another group of women in the city in July and October.