As the discussion around women in the workforce evolves from a mere awareness of the issue to a solutions-oriented discussion, one aspect of the debate deserves more examination: “the motherhood penalty.” A 2007 study at Cornell, titled “Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?” determined that there was in fact bias against mothers in […]
The Motherhood Penalty Read More »
A new book called The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman says that women are suffering from a lack of confidence and this holds them back in the workplace. In an article in The Atlantic, the authors compare the ability of men to be confident whether or not they are “right,” and
Is Confidence to Blame for the Gender Gap? Read More »
We’ve all heard the news by now. Mary T. Barra was chosen as the next CEO of General Motors. G.M.’s board chose her unanimously from a few internal candidates to replace current CEO Daniel F. Akerson, who will retire early to spend time with his ailing wife. “Mary was picked for her talent” and “not
When You Think Quotas, Think Talent Read More »
Some believe that having made their way to top positions, senior women-executives might hire and encourage more women. But much of the time, it doesn’t play out that way. Research conducted by Michelle Duguid, PhD., is showing that often, women in top roles actually are not helping their qualified peers. Michelle is the assistant professor
Is There a Pink Elephant in the Room? Read More »
Recently, our WE blog has been looking closely at the changes organizations are making to bring more women into positions of advanced responsibility—whether it’s instilling quotas for more diverse boards or addressing workplace practices that impact men and women differently. In Second-Generation Gender Bias – Parts I and II, we looked at what colleges like
Invest in Girls – Helping to Bring Them Up Read More »
In part one of this two-part series, we discussed the gender study Harvard University conducted over the last two years, and the changes the institution is implementing as a result. We also introduced the term “second-generation gender bias,” and defined it as the cultural engagement and policies in workplaces and academia that impact men and
Second-Generation Gender Bias Part II Read More »
This year, Ben Bernanke will leave his post as Federal Reserve Chairman and many are looking to Vice Chair Janet Yellen as a likely successor. If she becomes the next Fed Chairman, it won’t be a gender choice. It will be a wise business choice, even if she is the first woman to fill a
Janet Yellen: A Matter of Qualification, Not Gender Read More »
Each year global consulting firm 20-first evaluates the success of the Top 100 companies from three key regions of the globe—the US, Europe and Asia—on what it views as a key indicator of progress: gender balance of the Executive Committee. 20-first defines this cohort as those executives who report directly to the CEO. This measure
The Search for Gender Equity in Executive Committees Read More »
Turn on the news in any given week and you’re bound to hear one report or another about the changing socio-economic face of American society. Changes range from shifts in workplace gender equity to the racial makeup of the population. Among the recent headlines: 10 states thus far have legalized same-sex marriage and another 12
The Changing Face of The Client Base Read More »
Michelle R. Seitz CEO William Blair Investment Management Michelle R. Seitz, CEO of William Blair Investment Management, decided the financial services industry was for her the moment she visited a trading floor. Her advanced chemistry class was on a field trip from their small town in Indiana to Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry. “The teacher
WE Interviews: Michelle R. Seitz Read More »
