Category Archives: Uncategorized
Authenticity: How Women Leaders Can Be True To Themselves
First published in The Glass Hammer 22 March 2010
It seems obvious to many of us that a diverse group of men and women leaders are more likely to be creative and make better decisions than a homogenous group of men.
If we manage to achieve gender-balanced leadership in our organizations we will, however, only reap the [...]
The “Men Who Get It” Project
First published in The Glass Hammer 11 January 2011
Since publishing Unwritten Rules, I’ve worked with others to try to get more women in positions of senior leadership.
Basically all change efforts boil down to the same thing – can we get people to behave differently.
In this case, can we get shareholders to appoint more women to [...]
Women Are Not A Diversity Issue
Since I researched and published Unwritten Rules, I have become intrigued that the issue of women and leadership most often falls in the category of “diversity and inclusion.”
Why is that women are considered a “diversity” when they constitute 60% of university graduates in Europe and North America?
How do women come to be considered a “minority” [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged change management, diversity, women, women and leadership, women leaders 18 Comments
Fastest Way To Gender-Balanced Leadership – Appoint A Woman CEO
First published in The Glass Hammer September 2010
Corporations are now as powerful, or sometimes more powerful, than governments. It therefore matters a lot who sits on their boards and executive teams. These are the people who set strategy and make decisions that affect all of our lives.
Some of these companies are smart enough to understand [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged American and Western Union Holdings, Archer Daniels Midland, avivah wittenberg cox, Avon, CEO, diversity, gender-balance, J Sainsbury, Kraft Foods, leadership, National Grid, Pepsico, Rite Aid, Sara Lee, Sodexo, Sunoco, TJX Companies, Wellpoint, women, womenomics, Xerox 4 Comments
More Women Leaders – Time For A Different Approach
First published in The Glass Hammer July 7, 2010
One definition of insanity is to do the same thing again and again and expect a different result.
If we want more women in senior leadership positions we need to take a different approach. The current one isn’t working.
We’ve repeatedly called on Board Directors and C-suite executives to [...]
Posted in Uncategorized 2 Comments
20 Reasons Why We Still Need The “F” Word
In our privileged world “Feminism” has become a dirty word. For most western young women, to be called a Feminist is an insult.
My son and his girlfriends associate Feminism with anti-men and women who wear unattractive clothes. To them the “F” word is, at best, dated and no longer relevant.
If we could perhaps change the [...]
Gender Stereotypes- Not Just A Woman’s Issue
Not enough women in senior leadership roles is often blamed on gender stereotyping.
Gender stereotypes are widely shared views on what is considered appropriate and effective behavior for men and women.
To “fit in” and be socially accepted, men are told explicitly and implicitly to be:
Primary breadwinners
Emotionally and physically tough
Competitive
Decisive
Assertive
Men know they need to avoid all things [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged gender, leadership, stereotypes, women, women and leadership 4 Comments
Women’s Networks Not Enough – Get a Sponsor!
There’s no doubt that female networks connect women, nourish career advancement, provide learning opportunities, boost confidence and generally provide much needed support and encouragement.
But then what?
We need more women in positions of senior leadership to work collaboratively with men, influence strategy and make important decisions. Networking with other women isn’t enough to achieve this.
What works [...]
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged leadership, networking, networks, sex role stereotypes, women 4 Comments
Men Who Get It
Since Unwritten Rules was published earlier this year I have been speaking at conferences, corporations and on panels. All of these events have had one thing in common – the audience has been almost exclusively women.
Given the book provides pragmatic professional development for women leaders, this isn’t surprising. But to achieve gender balanced leadership in [...]
Men Who Get It Project (Update)