Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about what to say to my daughter to prepare her for the world of work. She is 16, and discovering that the world is a scary, uncertain place for women. 

In the opening remarks of the United Nations 2024 Commission on the Status of Women, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted, “Patriarchy is far from vanquished; it is regaining ground. We cannot accept a world in which grandmothers fear their granddaughters will enjoy fewer rights than they had.”

Equality for women in the workplace is still a long way away. A 2022 study by CivicPulse predicted that gender parity would not be reached among local government leaders until 2048. More recent findings by McKinsey & Company project that it will take 22 years for white women, and 48 years for women of color, to achieve parity in the workplace, according to its 2024 Women in the Workplace report. McKinsey’s report also notes that ageism, or unfair treatment based on a person’s age, is most pronounced for young women. About half of women under 30 say their age played a role in missing out on opportunities at work, and they are almost twice as likely as younger men to field unwanted comments about their age.

What advice can we offer to our daughters in these seemingly dire times? I have been fortunate to receive wisdom from diverse mentors throughout my career. As a mentor and coach to young professionals in local government, I have also gained insights from them about next-generation leadership. Here are some of my favorite takeaways from both mentors and mentees that I will definitely share with my daughter:

Mastery is a journey, not a destination.

Early in our careers we are often focused on skill mastery. We believe that if people can see how competent and knowledgeable we are, we will get better assignments and earn promotions. But skill acquisition is just the beginning. A constant cycle of learning and application is what keeps you relevant, demonstrates to others that you are capable of solving complex problems, and earns respect.

Genuine care will set you apart.

Research shows that women leaders are perceived as more effective when they exhibit caring alongside competence. Caring can be shown by leading with genuine curiosity, asking questions to seek understanding, providing clarity, respecting differences, and considering the well-being of all team members no matter how large or small their role. As the poet and activist Maya Angelou famously said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When you show genuine care for people and outcomes you distinguish yourself as a memorable professional that people are eager to work with.

Assimilate at your own risk.

Conventional career advice tells women to avoid “softening” their language, be more assertive or direct, and act more confident. But what if none of those things feel authentic to you? As a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, I was encouraged at an early age to assimilate to the dominant culture; to blend in so that others would believe that I belong. Years later working in largely male dominated areas, I found that teams were more willing to trust my leadership and work hard to deliver results when I was simply being myself—unabashedly and without apology. Don’t confuse assimilation with belonging. True leaders accept themselves and others for who they are, period.

Choose joy.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from young people it’s that joy is everywhere, and that it is a choice. When we choose to uplift those who exhibit joy in any form, at any time, we multiply the joy we experience. Entertainment icon Taylor Swift says, “The worst kind of person is someone who makes you feel bad, dumb, or stupid for being excited about something.” Don’t be that person; amplifying joy in others can uncover possibilities for new solutions and spark creativity.

Remember, there is always someone behind you.

When asked about how to maintain optimism in the face of heavy opposition, Candance Stanciel, chief equity officer for the city of Atlanta, reminded the audience at the American Public Works Association Conference that there will always be others behind us to carry on the work. The perceived missteps and failures of today leave behind lessons for the next generation to improve upon. And while we may not be able to achieve everything we want right now, we are constantly laying the groundwork for future progress.

CRADDOCK STROPES is cultural arts manager of Carlsbad, California, USA.