Last weeks post introduced the barriers to the advancement of women. This week we concentrate on the lack of access to career development and advocacy. This issue is not very well understood in many organizations. It is however one of the most important if we care about diversity in our leadership ranks and advancement of all top talent. The issue of advocacy is often subtle … [Read more...]
Success Factors Essential to the Advancement of Women in Business
It is amazing! It is amazing, after all the has been written and all that has been done by organizations and individuals regarding women leaders, that we still hear so much ambiguity in discussion about the lack of progress in the percentage of women leaders in business. We do know what the barriers are and we do know that if these barriers are addressed they turn into … [Read more...]
Women Leadership Lessons and Tackling Tension
Long plane rides often bring me fresh ideas, or at least give me time to think in fresh, new ways. Flying from Newark to San Francisco is perfect. Just about six hours with little distraction from my writing and musings. Sometimes! On this particular plane were a brother and a sister, two or so years apart, I guessed. They were attractive, well behaved children whose parents … [Read more...]
Top 5 must haves this season…on Linkedin
You wouldn’t think of going on a job interview in mix matched attire and tattered shoes as this would be a poor reflection of your personal brand right? So why present your personal brand on linkedin with anything less than the best representation of YOU? The top 5 picks that I recommend you have in your Linkedin wardrobe include: 1 - Complete your profile 100% and be … [Read more...]
If you were Brick and Mortar, would you Shop (Hire) YOU?
Ask yourself honestly, if you were going to shop for a stellar, top-notch player for your team, would you shop you? A simple yes or no will suffice. If you answered yes, fantastic! Read on and see if your answer is still yes at the close of today’s read. For my retail fans, I am dedicating today’s blog to you! This includes corporate Product Managers, Buyers, Operations, … [Read more...]
Mother’s Day and Great Gifts
In this column I talked about what a fiasco it was when I did not send flowers to my mother. It had become an iconic story in the family. On Saturday a gorgeous bouquet arrived in a fabulous vase. Of course it was from my daughters and their families. We are in the Pennsylvania, they in California so the gift and sentiment worked. However, I also received an amazing gift … [Read more...]
Excessive Interviewing – What Has Happened to Courting Top Talent? Should Companies Pay for Excessive Interviews?
More than ever, I am hearing top talent from various positions and industries express their discontent with lengthy interviews processes, poor recruiting etiquette and indecisive decision-making on behalf of companies. While we are still experiencing an employers market, the employer needs to regain focus and treat candidates with dignity and respect. Until that happens, … [Read more...]
Betty Takes on Walmart
Last week a San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals certified the largest class-action employment lawsuit in U.S. history. The dispute was first filed in 2001 by Betty Dukes, a store greeter from California, along with five co-workers. The plaintiffs argue that women are paid less and given fewer promotions than their male co-workers, and the lawsuit states that … [Read more...]
Why Can’t We Just Be Ourselves?
Sometimes I think we can make things much more complicated than they really are. We analyze and dissect and re-analyze our behavior and the implications of our behavior until we forget our original intention. I could be wrong here, but I think we, as women, especially professional women, expend a great deal of energy second guessing ourselves. Do you find that’s true for … [Read more...]
Leadership Work vs. “Women’s Work”
The balance score card to measures a society is graded by how its leaders set policy for caring; for children, the sick, the elderly, and the poor. If I were asked to grade our country I’m saddened to say the marks would not get us into Harvard. What is missing? For me it boils down to the relationship aspect of how we care for each other. Remember the name of Hilary … [Read more...]