For the first post in my series called Women of Innovation, I believe it only fitting to feature my friend, colleague, and business partner, Professor Jane Karwoski. Jane, who also is known by her media name, Dr. J, is an angel investor, a freelance online psychology professor, and an entrepreneur. Embrace Ambiguity One trait that Jane feels has stood her in good stead is … [Read more...]
What Marissa Mayer should bring to Yahoo
Marissa Mayer is a 37 year old executive of a technology firm that alone should create energy and excitement around leadership potential. She is joining Yahoo from Google and to be frank some rigidity is needed at Yahoo. So as we wait with bated breath to dissect her every move as CEO, here are things that I would like to see her bring to the troubled company. Well rounded … [Read more...]
GUTSY GALS and GLUTEN-FREE LIVING
We are now onto our second year of GUTSY WOMEN WEEKENDS (next one June 22-24, 2012) and we are making modifications due to a GUTSY woman in her 60’s, a social worker, mother, grandmother, and a woman who is thumbing her nose at MS and winning in her own way. Her name is Vikki and she drove up to The Country Place in North East Pa., got out of her van equipped for someone who … [Read more...]
Strong Women in the Front Row
Telling a group of men to “show up and be accountable” is new territory for most women. We have been in back of or on the side of our men for eons. Not that we have to be loud and bossy to get our way. We just have to be clear. Margaret Thatcher, portrayed by Meryl Streep in the film The Iron Lady, was a woman of depth and conviction. Strong in an arena that few women … [Read more...]
GUTSY GALS are Electricians
Sue was not feeling GUTSY; she was still in pain as she talked about an ugly spill that ended with a badly injured ankle. Several doctors told her she would have to be CAREFUL, very, very careful for, well…forever. Diana, sitting across the circle from Sue is a nurse. How could it be that she had the same ankle injury with that big, long medical name, a year ago? And she was … [Read more...]
Lessons from Avon
This week Avon CEO Andrea Jung was released from her position and stock prices soared. The company is trying to find its footing and the CEO was the unequivocal target. Is that a bad thing? Is there anything that Jung can take from this experience? No woman is an island The first thing that jumps out at me is the fact that Jung had no COO. I believe that this fact alone … [Read more...]
The Real Richness of the Holidays
The following TED talk on regret sparked some interesting emotions in me. I had a flash of remembering writing a freshman college paper on regret. My hypothesis was that if I paid attention to EVERYTHING I did and said I would live a life free of regret. Hummmm... I got an "A" for the quality of writing and research on that paper. I also had a comment by my professor that … [Read more...]
Women: The New Voices of Unions
In a day and age where the people are again rising up to fight for the rights of your every day person, the Occupy movements are starting to force us to look at the issues in our society for the working class. Due to the worries over money, health care, benefits and decently paying jobs that don’t work you to pieces, organized labor unions are making a come back. New voices for … [Read more...]
Christiana Shi: Women in Power
Christina Shi is the Chief Operating Officer at Nike, Inc. and when you look into her progress and career path she brings a whole new meaning to the company slogan of “just do it”. Through her career, Christiana has taken a lot of risks. She started as a management consultant working for McKinsey & Co. where she started building the network that would eventually launch … [Read more...]
A Gutsy Woman Leader Occupies Wall Street
There she was, tufts of purple hair framing her face as she stood daring the policeman to arrest her. “What if I punch you in the eye?” she queried. “What if I knee’ d you in the groin?” she challenged. She was told she would not be arrested if she stayed with the protestors and that made the day much brighter. Think about it. What do you do when you feel the passion … [Read more...]