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December 7, 2011
The Women's Mafia
Gone are the days when there was only one seat at the table for women in the boardroom or the C-suite.
Globally, more women are promoting one another at work – and companies are reaping the benefits.
A study from Corporate Women Directors International shows “companies led by women have more female directors in boardroom and in executive officer positions.”
Plus, companies with female CEOs have more than 22 percent women on boards compared to the less than 10 percent average.
“We need to grow women CEOs, because they tend to be the direct path to more women’s participation at higher levels, which leads to great results,” says Irene Natividad, president of the Global Summit of Women.
She says chairing diversity councils, offering incentives and setting specific diversity targets allows more women to advance.
Think promoting other women threatens your advancement? Think again, says Natividad. More women actually means less competition.
“Having one woman means she’s by herself, two women often means competition, but if you have three or more, the focus turns to performance, not gender.”
A McKinsey study shows that, while more than half of 2,000 surveyed C-suite executives understood “the business case” – where companies with more women see better results – only 22 percent act on it.
“I don’t think women CEOs start out by saying, ‘I’ve got to bring in other women,” explains Natividad. They just know how to help other women find "what it takes to get to the top.”
Bonus PINK Link: Learn more about the benefits of promoting other women in our online exclusive.
By Caroline Cox
“In business, you get what you want by giving other people
what they want.” Alice Macdougall
*Supporting images from FreeDigitalPhotos.net, photostock, Michal Marcol, and sippakorn.
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Comments
Helping to advance other women
I have a colleague who turned down opportunities to advance out of fear. I once shared her fear, but pushed through it and reaped a great occupational reward. Three years later, she made the decision to leap just as I had three years earlier. I always spoke to her regarding the job, always shared the "little known facts" regarding the work ( those details which are conveniently left out of job descriptions), and built a network that I connected her to that is stronger than the network I had. It was constant messaging to her that she was more than capable, worthy, and tips for how to manage the work.
In helping women advance, I believe the key is for us to help one another see the light at the end of all tunnels, to always be assured that the work is manageable (otherwise, the work will manage us), and regular check-ins with one another for occupational and emotional well-being.
Thanks!
Beautifully said. Thanks for the story Little PINK Book and LOVED the comment above.