Female Gen Xers were trailblazers in the workplace, but now face mid-career challenges that often go overlooked. Canvas8 spoke with Kath Sloggett, founder of career coaching organisation Runneth, to learn how businesses can better support them during pivotal moments in their working lives.

Emotional labor in the workplace is counterproductive, taxing, and detracts from the work that adds real value to businesses. Unfortunately, it also disproportionately affects women, who often end up assuming a caretaker role even at work, further hindering their ability to move up the ladder.

More than half of Americans are interested in pursuing STEM careers, but women are being left behind. With gender equality now a top-of-mind issue, brands have an opportunity to help young girls gain confidence in themselves and build the skills needed to enter the science and technology fields.

Silicon Valley may be notorious for its boys’ club culture, but the Middle East’s start-up scene is booming thanks to the efforts of female entrepreneurs and scientists. What social and economic factors are leading these women into tech? And how can gender equality benefit their home countries?