Wise Women Working

Harvard Business Review is catching on. A recent article on the female economy declares that women present a marketing opportunity more than twice the size of China and India combined. Yet, most companies fail to see or capture this prize. Those that do are winning, even in the down economy. How? They are listening to smart women in their own companies.

At H&M, a Swedish clothing company, the formula for success includes a board and management structure where women are in the majority. This strategy has produced a:

Attracting and retaining talented women is no longer a question of political correctness but a competitive advantage that often requires changing outdated cultures that worked when the professional domain was “a man’s world.” Creating an inviting and inclusive environment for women and other non-dominant groups means demonstrating the company values that they bring to the table.

Fifteen-year-olds Dora and Akuah recently wowed a group of women leaders who attended a workshop I led on Finding Your Flow: The Alternative to Work Life Imbalance. Dora and Akuah were there at the invitation of a Girls Inc. board member where they are serving as interns this summer. When participants were asked to define pleasure, happiness, and fulfillment, Dora's response won the crowd.

Introduction

Mentoring is among the most effective approaches to professional development and career advancement. Ask most senior managers and executives what helped them get where they are, and they will probably include a significant mentor. When I ask new clients to talk about the important influences in their lives, they usually include a mentor. One VP of sales mentioned how his mentor and first manager helped him through the unexpected death of his father.

I've been wanting to introduce PINK readers to Carrie H. Johnson since reading the manuscript of her book From the Pits to the Palace – the story of her entrepreneurial journey and how it lead to a great discovery – her Self. Like Carrie, many women put away some best parts of themselves in childhood. Those parts of Carrie emerged through her business. As you read, perhaps the best parts of yourself will be inspired to come out and play.

In the world of work, it’s important to show up on the radar screen. According to a study of 2900 employees by a Chicago based search firm, lack of self-promotion is an important reason behind the disproportionately low number of women in executive roles. If the right people don’t know how you contribute to the department or the company, you are less likely to be promoted and to be granted important opportunities. Even if you don't aspire to a senior level position, you risk being viewed as expendable if your achievements are not visible in the current cost-cutting environment.

Are you a mom and a professional? Do you suffer guilt over not being a "better" Mom – whatever that means for you? As a mother's day gift I pass along words of wisdom from my son, 15 years old at the time. May they relieve some if not all of your guilt. (Meant for dads who are moms, too.)

For mother's day, Wise Women Working celebrates two wise women who taught their not-yet-president sons important lessons on leadership. The first young man, Abraham Lincoln, grew up to become one of the country's greatest leaders, and many believe the second, Barack Obama, will be similarly recognized for his ability to lead and transform the country.

Work life balance is a myth for many people. Sixty percent of executives report working at least 50 hours per week. That doesn't include the additional time they spend thinking about work. Ten percent work more than 80 hours per week. This situation is even more intense for 92% of working women who go home after a full day of work and manage household and family responsibilities.

So how do we cope? The answer is flow, but flow is better than mere coping. It's about enjoying and finding meaning in what we and doing what we enjoy and find meaningful. Flow refuels us.