Forbes recently published its annual list of the 100 Most Powerful Women. The list includes leaders from the political, media, entertainment, non-profit, and business worlds, including U.S Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, PepsiCo Inc. Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi, and entertainer Lady Gaga. It's safe to assume that these women have a great deal of influence in their … [Read more...]
Women Entrepreneurs: Tory Johnson; Fired Up Rather than Fired From
Were you ever fired from a job? Just the thought is chill-inducing. Fired, it means failure, finished, foolish, and a lot of words that are meant to be esteem-downers. That’s how it was for Tory Johnson when she was a twenty something and on the rise in corporate America. Within one hour she had fallen from grace and was out on the street. Fast forward to today. Tory is a … [Read more...]
Women Make up Half of Workforce but Just 2% of CEOs
Catalyst published some interesting statistics about how women stack up in the U.S. workforce. The results aren't very surprising if this is a topic you're familiar with, but for those that aren't, check out the stats below: Women make up: 46.7% of the U.S. labor force 51.5% of management, professional and related occupations 14.4% of Fortune 500 executive … [Read more...]
Leadership Lessons: When Truth is Discounted
In my new book in process, “GUTSY: How Women Leaders Make Change” I had to stop writing and take the temperature of my own “GUTSINESS”. Here is the story: I have always been a rebel, rebel who wants to see positive change and is willing to stand and be counted. I have done this in many instances when the risk has been to my career, reputation, and even the financial bottom … [Read more...]
GUTSY Is As GUTSY Does
As I continue to research for my book about GUTSY WOMEN LEADERS have such a sense of pride looking the progress we have made to stand and be counted. Our revolution has, at times, been angry; yet, it has maintained dignity and a deep desire for continued dialogue. If you have not yet read “When Everything Changed” by Gail Collins grab a copy and take the journey back to the … [Read more...]
Does Being GUTSY Activate Being GUILTY?
Gutsy women break barriers. Gutsy women lead the way. Gutsy women speak out when others remain silent. As I research the lives of women leaders who have earned the badge of being a change agent I have been curious about the down side of standing out from the crowd. I call it “the giraffe syndrome”. You know be careful about sticking your neck out, you never know what can … [Read more...]
What You Dont Know Can Hurt You
Many times when working with organizations on strategies to increase gender diversity in the leadership ranks the leaders will say " lets just get all the women together and ask them what they want". While this is noble and certainly talking with the women in the organization to understand how they experience the culture is critical it is not "the answer" . One of the most … [Read more...]
Corporate Exec or Entrepreneur – Which is Better?
Post by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer If you are an entrepreneur, you’ve probably experienced the look of envy on the faces of people in the corporate workforce when they find out you run your own business. They are likely thinking things like “wow, if it’s a beautiful day, you can just take the afternoon off” or “you’re so lucky you don’t have … [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...]
Complexity of Women Leaders
Women in power in this century are, for the most part, dismissing the old notions of the vast dichotomy between their skills and those of their male counterparts. This has been an on-going debate for decades and essentially, leads nowhere. We are all complex, multi-layered human beings and we need to embrace that concept, female and male. A graduate of the Total Leadership … [Read more...]