Travel that Matters

safari tent_2.JPGby Paige Churchman (New York City)

“Making a change, making the world a better place, it’s not only your responsibility, it is your choice. It is your blessing. It is your gift. It’s your opportunity to make your life mean something. So take it,” says Ghana-born musician and activist, Derrick Ashong.

Yes, you say, but how? You’ve got over 300 messages in your email box and five in your voicemail. Your day of back-to-back meetings starts in 10 minutes, your performance goals are due by 5:00, and you want a promotion. Yet somewhere deep in your heart there’s something beyond your career and family that you care about – the children who die each day from lack of food, the acres of rainforest being burned every minute, homelessness, wars, or maybe it’s as close as that litter of stray kittens you saw behind McDonald’s.

Read more

/by

Wowed at the Women on Wall Street Conference

,

by Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

“We all live on a waterbed where each move we make has consequences. We always have to take things long term view when faced with short term problem. There are times when goal is to survive – but that is tactic, not a strategy. Sustainability is about long term balance and longevity.” So said Seth Waugh, CEO of Deutsche Bank, in his opening remarks to the 3000-strong women attending the Women on Wall Street (WoWS) conference on Tuesday, October 22nd at the Grand Hyatt in New York City. This year’s theme was Positioning for Sustainability: Our Work, Our Lives, Our Planet.

Read more

/by

Women on Corporate Boards Study Released

boardroom.JPGby Erin Abrams (New York City)

This week, the annual Women on Boards survey was released. The study tracks the number of women sitting on the Board of Directors of the 100 largest companies in the greater Philadelphia area. As the study is now in its eighth year of collecting data, it provides an interesting set of data to measure women’s progress over time, as represented by their presence on boards and in C-suite positions at major companies that can lead to their appointment to directorships.

Read more

/by

What Am I Worth?

,

moneyinhand.JPGby Paige Churchman (New York City)

The first time I asked for a raise, I got it. That was way back in the 1970s. I was a secretary in an ad agency. I faced off against my boss’s boss, asking for a lot more than the $150 a week I was making. “Our secretaries don’t make over $160,” he said. “Have faith,” he said. “Lots of girls would do your job for free,” he said. Nice try, buddy. I got $175 a week and a promise for $190 (what I asked for) two months later.

Read more

/by

Ask-A-Recruiter: Working On Your Career, Not Just In It

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

Actors have somebody or a group of people actively managing their careers, guiding, preparing, negotiating, etc. Is there such a thing for a business executive? You pay somebody a fee, similar to an agent, for the services provided by a number of disparate functions: e.g., recruiting (executive recruiter) for the ideal positions, performing at a high level (coach), negotiating salary and contracts (labor lawyer). In short, I would be interested in a career manager that would handle my career. Does this type of service/person exist?

You’re right that there are 3 separate pieces — legal, search, and coaching. But there are good reasons why all 3 are not under the same arena:

Read more

/by

Work/Life Balance in the Law

law2.jpgby Elizabeth Harrin (London)

It’s not easy balancing work and a home life. Throw in clients who need you to be available at all hours, managers who don’t believe in vacations and court dates that change at the drop of a hat and you have to wonder why anyone chooses the legal profession at all.

Read more

/by

Work/Life Balance Innovations at Bain & Company

wroklifebalancescale.JPGby Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

As the firm at the top of Consulting magazine’s “10 Best Firms to Work For” for the sixth year in a row, Bain & Company knows a thing or two about keeping their employees happy and engaged. “The most important thing to understand about consulting is that the retention of top talent is a major business priority,” said Heidi Locke Simon, a Partner in Bain’s San Francisco office. “We at Bain have a history of flexible work options for both men and women. These policies are designed for all top talent, not for employees of a particular gender.” While not solely for women, the programs in place are helping their female employees stay in the Bain family, or easily “on-ramp” after leaving due to familial obligations.
Read more

/by

Voice of Experience: Anne Wallace, Executive Director, Identity Theft Assistance Center

Anne_Wallace1_1_.JPGby Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

Anne Wallace is a trailblazer. In a 35-year career in banking and financial services that has taken her from the public to the private sector and back again, Wallace has broken down barriers for women and has reshaped the industry in the process.

Read more

/by

The Impact of the Economic Downturn on the Legal Industry

law.JPGby Heather Chapman (New York City)

The financial market isn’t the only industry being affected by the recent downturn in the U.S. economy. Businesses all across the nation have seen a decline in customers. However, in the legal industry, the number of bankruptcy, litigation, regulatory compliance, white-collar defense, and divorce cases has risen as people and businesses try to either save themselves from collapse or cash in on someone else’s. With questions like “Should I keep investing my money?” to “What do I do about my health insurance plan?” lawyers are finding that business is booming.

Read more

/by

Tips From the Tarmac

bunnygerman_1_.JPGBy Paige Churchman (New York City)

Today women account for nearly half of business travel, and most of them wouldn’t have it any other way. A 2003 NYU study found that 80% of women business travelers view business travel as a sign of professional achievement and, given the choice, 65% would continue to travel on business, despite cramped airline seats, security lines and long waits on the tarmac. The Glass Hammer checked in with women on the move to find out some of their secrets of survival on the road.

Read more

/by