As I stumble through this minefield of entrepreneurship, I have learned that there has to be a significant switch in your thinking. We start businesses for a variety of reasons, mostly because we are really good at something specific. What happens is that you quickly realize that you cannot be the person that runs the business and the person who does the work. There has to be … [Read more...]
Research Finds Lack of Gender Diversity in Boardrooms Causes Dysfunction
Women held just 16% of corporate board seats in 2012 and in the past six years, there has been just a 2% increase in that number. An annual study published by the Harvard Business review and done in partnership with WomenCorporateDirectors and Heidrick & Struggles reports that gender inequality in corporate boardrooms causes real dysfunction in 2013. The study was … [Read more...]
The Backlash Against Female Negotiators
Recent research surrounding women in leadership roles, co-authored by business management expert Catherine Tinsley of Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, discovered that there is a significant backlash against assertive, self-advocating female negotiators in business. The study found that this backlash is consistent with negative masculine … [Read more...]
The Tone of Business
I recently got some feedback that I have to say, took me aback a bit. The feedback came from two very different source with very different interest. And while the feedback certainly has merit, I have to say it took me a few days to process it. ‘Leona, you are animated and that’s great. It’s why people love you, but some people don’t know how to take it. It can come off as … [Read more...]
2 out of 3 Americans Believe the Glass Ceiling Exists
A study conducted by financial services company Edward Jones revealed that two out of three Americans believe that the glass ceiling exists and women in the workforce face a real barrier to career advancement. The financial services industry was named by the most survey respondents as the industry with the hardest glass ceiling for women to overcome, followed by technology, … [Read more...]
For Love of the Game
This morning I had the privilege of attending an Executive Breakfast that focused on employee engagement and what that actually means. It was a timely discussion because I hear the phrase employee engagement in just about every explanation of what’s wrong with an organization. But what is it really? What does employee engagement mean and why is it important to your business? … [Read more...]
Women on Innovation – Dr. Jane Karwoski
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...]
Senator Urges SEC to Increase Diversity on Corporate Boards
In a letter sent today to Mary Jo White, Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) urged the SEC to take steps to address the lack of representation of women and minorities on corporate boards. In his letter, Senator Casey cited several statistics from a recent Alliance Board for Diversity report to support his message, … [Read more...]
Most Powerful Women in the World 2013 Announced
Who are the most powerful women in the world? According to the Forbes 2013 World's Most Powerful Women List, they come from diverse industries, including business, technology, media, politics, philanthropy, real estate, investments, fashion and retail, food and beverage, and entertainment (i.e., celebrities). Of the 100 power women on the list, a large percentage work in … [Read more...]
2013 Women on Boards Survey Finds the Gender Gap Closed 1.7% Since 2009
The number of women on the corporate boards at 5,977 companies in 47 countries across the globe has increased by just 0.5% since 2012 and only 1.7% since 2009. Those statistics come from GMI Ratings' 2013 Women on Boards Survey as reported by Kimberly Gladman, Director of Research and Risk Analytics at GovernanceMetrics International. Gladman shared the key study results on … [Read more...]