PINK & Blue
By Leigh Henderson
Time for a female president?
"Do you think there will be a female president of the United States soon?" Although it was the last question taken during the Q & A at the PINK Conference in New York last fall, the query captures the inspirational tone of the sold-out event hosted by PINK Founding Editor Cynthia Good.
That is, women have made it to high levels within companies, so why can't we have equal representation at the top – including the job of CEO of the USA?
Faith Popcorn, CEO and founder of Faith Popcorn's BrainReserve, moderated a lively panel discussion on career success strategies and business solutions with four leaders in their fields: Francesca Brockett, vice president of corporate strategy, Dell Inc.; Liz Lange, founder and president, Liz Lange Maternity; Linda Sawyer, CEO, Deutsch Inc.; and Alexandra Lebenthal, CEO, Lebenthal & Co, which recently sold to Merrill Lynch.
The common theme among the two dozen panelists and moderators at the PINK Conferences in five cities was time – time to perform at a high level, time for family, time to mentor and time to ask for help to stay focused on priorities.
Comfortable in the intimate setting at the Essex House in New York, Brockett shared what most in the crowd thought an unmatchable work schedule. "I get up at 3:30 a.m., exercise, then go to my office," the early riser announced. "My team knows that's my think time – when the place is quiet – to work without interruption."
Liz Lange drew on passion to start and build her successful brand that filled the gap for stylish and sophisticated maternity clothes. The designer said she manages time so she has a healthy balance in her schedule. "I leave my office at 6 each evening so I can have dinner with my children," she said. "Staff members know that I will leave a meeting then."
The question of whether it's time for a female CEO of the USA was posed by one of the handful of men who attended. ABC Television has sworn in Geena Davis as the leader of the land on the new primetime television show Commander in Chief, and Popcorn and the panelists agreed a woman could be president. However, Sawyer stated what many felt in the audience: "There are women out there who have the potential to be president, but the country as a whole is not ready for that to happen."
Some reasons for the electorate not getting behind a woman leader are contained in a new study by the New York-based women's research group Catalyst, titled, Women Take Care, Men Take Charge: Stereotyping of U.S. Business Leaders Exposed. A key learning from the study – "Because women leaders are stereotyped as relatively poor problem-solvers, their power to motivate followers may be seriously undermined" – highlights a hidden barrier many women encounter. Additionally, Catalyst found no significant differences in the leadership styles of men and women, counter to popular perception.
"There is a tremendous need for women who have achieved success in the business world to mentor and take time to share their stories with other women," said one attendee who found the conference helpful. "In this way, we don't have to make the same mistakes, and we can share our best practices to help them move ahead in their career."
Panelists emphasized the importance of mentoring and being mentored. Sawyer twice mentioned the role her parents played in encouraging her to take risks and plunge into new areas. "Mentors like my mom and dad have made a significant difference in my life," said the 44-year-old executive. "I take the time to mentor others, even someone older such as a 58-year-old new hire at my company."
As a member of the Wall Street elite, Lebenthal was inspired by a strong role model – her grandmother, who ran the family financial services business after her husband and company founder died. When accepting the reins of the company from her father recently, the mother of three knew she had to set and keep priorities, including a personal goal of training to run the New York Marathon. The help of a personal coach, she said, keeps her "focused on valuing each day and building relationships so I can pick up the phone and know a power broker on the Street will take my call."
Popcorn, Brockett, Lange, Sawyer and Lebenthal are models of women who take responsibility for themselves, their companies and their families, as do the panelists and moderators in Los Angeles (Liz Dolan, host, Satellite Sisters; Bonnie Hill, member of the board for Hershey Foods, The Home Depot and YUM! Brands; Sue Klug, senior vice president, merchandising and sales, California division, Albertsons; Dr. Wanda Wallace, president and CEO, Leadership Forum Inc.); Dallas (Shirley Washington, author and journalist; Ka Cotter, vice chairman, The Staubach Co.; Kim McKesson, senior vice president, store merchandising, The Home Depot; June Shrewsbury, vice president, F-16 programs, Lockheed Martin; Judy Spires, president, Dallas/Fort Worth division, Albertsons); Atlanta (Mary Lou Quinlan, founder and CEO, Just Ask a Woman; Carolyn Bivens, commissioner, Ladies Professional Golf Association; Valencia Adams, vice president and chief diversity officer, BellSouth; Katie Bayne, senior vice president, Coca-Cola Brands, Coca-Cola North America; Sharon Wibben, vice president, Photo/Connection Center, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.); and Chicago (Marti Barletta, CEO, TrendSight Group; Donna Orender, president, Women's National Basketball Association; Tonise Paul, president and CEO, Energy BBDO; Margo Georgiadis, executive vice president of marketing and chief marketing officer, Discover Financial Services). They manage their time to be equally accountable to themselves and others.
High-profile role models like these indicate it is time for equal representation at the top – including the job of CEO of the USA.
We want to know what you think:
1. What stereotypes hold you back?
2. How are you using your time in productive ways to further your career and personal life?
To submit your response, please reply to info@pinkmagazine.com
Leigh Henderson's Leadership Training Room
www.LeadershipTrainingRoom.com
The Kellogg School of Management's Women's Business Association (WBA) invites you to attend its 2006 conference, "Practical Applications for Your Career: The Female Prospective," held January 25, 2006, in Evanston, Ill. The lineup of speakers and panelists at the 2006 conference will discuss topics including industry trends, entrepreneurship, work/life balance, leadership and management, mentoring and networking. This year's keynote speakers will be Mary Dillon, EVP & CMO for McDonald's Corp. as well as Margo Georgiadis, EVP & CMO of Discover Financial Services. This is a great opportunity for businesswomen to connect with Kellogg students and network with other Chicago-area professionals.
http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/WBAConference/index.htm.
