Choices are Good
"Where Are the Women?" was a recent Fast Company cover headline. Intrigued by the question, I assumed it would be another article expressing gender bias in the boardroom. It was, but it cited more realistic reasons for the fewer numbers of women at the top of their organizations.
"By 2004, after three decades of the women’s movement, when business schools annually graduate thousands of qualified young women, when the managerial pipeline is stuffed with capable, talented female candidates for senior positions, why are there still so few women at the top?" it asked. Given the same education, age, skills, and experience, statistics still prove women are paid and promoted less than men.
Several former female CEOs interviewed in the article, written by Linda Tishcler, admitted-with no regrets-that it was by choice they decided to take a less demanding career path. "In today’s markets, being CEO is a global, 24-hour-a-day job. You have to give it your life," one said.
A recent University of California, Berkeley MBA study concluded that "success in a corporation is less a function of gender discrimination than of how hard a person chooses to compete. And the folks who tend to compete the hardest are generally the stereotypical manly men. Individuals who are more loyal, work longer hours, and are willing to sacrifice for the organization are the ones who will be rewarded."
It’s true. Most women business owners I know work very hard, but when given the choice of staying until 10 p.m. to complete a project or going to their child’s soccer game, she’ll choose the soccer game most of the time. More women struggle to find that work/family balance in their life.
A good friend gave me a perfect gift this Christmas: a small figurine on skates, pirouetting while holding a banner with the words "Create Balance." Knowing the difficulty of running a business, being mother, wife, friend, and daughter while trying desperately to maintain their individuality, most women support one another in their choices.
Many career women are fortunate to have a choice men may not. We can make life choices along they way, as the Pearl sisters did last month when they announced the temporary closing of The Strawberry Patch to give family top priority for a while. Although some change is occurring, most men "climb the career ladder" and find their greatest life’s satisfaction with their work. Women find as much satisfaction in other areas of their life.
Nomination forms for the annual YWCA Leader Luncheon are included in this issue. Take a moment to reflect on a friend or co-worker whose outstanding leadership should be recognized. Think of those women who are role models for others, who have chosen to work in the arts, education, business, communications, community service, or human rights. They may not be at the top of their organization, but they’ve found joy and balance in their lives by their choices.
Choices are always good. And I’m thankful we have the choice to create balance. TPW
"By 2004, after three decades of the women’s movement, when business schools annually graduate thousands of qualified young women, when the managerial pipeline is stuffed with capable, talented female candidates for senior positions, why are there still so few women at the top?" it asked. Given the same education, age, skills, and experience, statistics still prove women are paid and promoted less than men.
Several former female CEOs interviewed in the article, written by Linda Tishcler, admitted-with no regrets-that it was by choice they decided to take a less demanding career path. "In today’s markets, being CEO is a global, 24-hour-a-day job. You have to give it your life," one said.
A recent University of California, Berkeley MBA study concluded that "success in a corporation is less a function of gender discrimination than of how hard a person chooses to compete. And the folks who tend to compete the hardest are generally the stereotypical manly men. Individuals who are more loyal, work longer hours, and are willing to sacrifice for the organization are the ones who will be rewarded."
It’s true. Most women business owners I know work very hard, but when given the choice of staying until 10 p.m. to complete a project or going to their child’s soccer game, she’ll choose the soccer game most of the time. More women struggle to find that work/family balance in their life.
A good friend gave me a perfect gift this Christmas: a small figurine on skates, pirouetting while holding a banner with the words "Create Balance." Knowing the difficulty of running a business, being mother, wife, friend, and daughter while trying desperately to maintain their individuality, most women support one another in their choices.
Many career women are fortunate to have a choice men may not. We can make life choices along they way, as the Pearl sisters did last month when they announced the temporary closing of The Strawberry Patch to give family top priority for a while. Although some change is occurring, most men "climb the career ladder" and find their greatest life’s satisfaction with their work. Women find as much satisfaction in other areas of their life.
Nomination forms for the annual YWCA Leader Luncheon are included in this issue. Take a moment to reflect on a friend or co-worker whose outstanding leadership should be recognized. Think of those women who are role models for others, who have chosen to work in the arts, education, business, communications, community service, or human rights. They may not be at the top of their organization, but they’ve found joy and balance in their lives by their choices.
Choices are always good. And I’m thankful we have the choice to create balance. TPW