The Glass Ceiling: Who Said That?

WkingWomenCover_sm_1_.jpgby Paige Churchman (New York City)

We all talk about the glass ceiling, but do you know when the term began? Or whom we have to thank for it? Take a guess:

A) In 1971, Gloria Steinem coined the term in the premiere issue of Ms. Magazine.

B) Carol Hymowitz and Timothy Schellhardt used it in a 1986 Wall Street Journal.

C) Family Circle editor Gay Bryant first said it in a 1984 Adweek interview

D) No one knows. Perhaps an unknown woman stuck in middle management in Boston or Toronto or New York said it to a colleague in 1978, and then it spread by word of mouth.

E) None of the above

B is a popular answer on the Web. Even a Forbes story says the term originated in the Wall Street Journal. But keep clicking on those Google results and you’ll find your way to sources that say “glass ceiling” appeared in print two years prior when Gay Bryant said it in the Adweek interview. So answer C is close. But so are answers D and maybe E. Gay Bryant is probably the first to use “the glass ceiling” in print, and she did throw it out there in her Adweek interview. However, the very first time she put those words on paper were on page 19 of her book, The Working Woman Report. In chapter 1, Where We Are, Bryant writes:

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Want to Get Home Sooner? Stop Multitasking Your E-mail

iStock_000003059926XSmall_1_.jpgContributed by Marsha Egan, CEO, Egan Group, Inc.

As women, we pride ourselves in our ability to multitask. We often smirk when men put laundry in and stand over the washer or read the paper straight through until it’s done. We gals think multitasking is an advantage—and maybe it is – but maybe it has gone too far.

Let’s face it – multitasking isn’t really doing two things at once. Multitasking is alternating among tasks. In other words, you hit the print button and then you shift to making a phone call while the print job is delivered. And yes, women are darn good at it.

But there’s a limit. The constant barrage of e-mail messages is testing those limits.

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Ask-A-Recruiter: Phantom Job Postings

istock_000005168521xsmall1.jpgContributed by Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

Last week, my coaching firm hosted our monthly free coaching call, where we answered questions from jobseekers about the hiring process. Not one, but two questions were submitted about phantom job postings: Why do recruiters post listings for jobs that don’t exist? Why do companies consistently list job openings, bring in interviewees, extend offers, and go far in the hiring process, only to put positions on hold and sometimes close the positions?

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Deal Making Without Dollars – The Art of Revenue Share Deals

When the economy is strong, and the rising tide lifts all boats, everyone is behind revenue share deals: it’s a win-win. From the largest companies like Cisco (who just closed an innovative ad rev split deal with Warner Music for Cisco’s new social platform service) to the newest start-ups, media companies have long relied on splitting advertising revenue to get deals done.

But as advertising revenues face a potential decline will new media and technology deals continue to support the “rev share” deal approach? What’s the process for determining the value of a deal in the first place? Will deal evaluations be adjusted in this new economic environment? How do you account for “audited”, “trustworthy” numbers from the party responsible for paying out the revenue share?Join leading deal negotiation experts from a cross-section of media and technology companies to discuss best practices, common pitfalls, and upcoming trends in “revenue share” deal negotiation.

Speakers:
Chris Phenner, SVP, Thumbplay
John Sarnoff, Strategic Partnership Manager, Google TV
Mike Walsh, CEO, Leverage Software
Jeff Zaretsky, VP Business Development, KickApps Moderator:
Dan Roth, Senior Writer, Wired Magazine

Click Here to Register

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Catalyst Awards Conference

On March 30th, top business women and men gathered at New York’s Waldorf Astoria for the 2009 Catalyst Awards Conference. This year the event celebrated Baxter International Inc., CH2M HILL, Gibbons P.C., and KPMG LLP for their innovative programs designed to support diversity in the workplace, including the advancement of women.

“This year’s award-winning initiatives represent the business success that bringing women into leadership can deliver across industries and geographies. No matter where we look, whether in New York or Asia Pacific, from engineering to pharmaceuticals, we find achievement through inclusion of women,” said Ilene H. Lang, President and CEO of Catalyst. At the morning general session, each of the honored companies spoke and took questions on the programs for which they were recognized. Baxter International Inc., a global developer and manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, was acknowledged for its Asia Pacific initiative, Building Talent Edge, through which it reached its goals of a 50/50 gender balance across management-level two years ahead of the target date.

Speakers from CH2M Hill shared how their firm—an engineering and construction leader—built on an already-existing culture of diversity to help foster women’s advancement through their Constructing Pathways for Women Through Inclusion initiative.

Representatives from Gibbons P.C., a progressive law firm based in the New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Delaware metropolitan regions, spoke about their success with The Woman’s Initiative: Driving Success Through Diversity Investment. This program has become critical to its branding in the marketplace and in fostering a workplace culture that is flexible and inclusive.

Finally, KPMG discussed its initiative—Great Place to Build a Career—that includes a variety of programs intended to foster a bond with KPMG for an entire career lifespan, from recruiting to maintaining connections with KPMG alumni.

Panelists from all the companies spoke of the business case to be made for the meaningful inclusion of women at all levels of management. In the Gibbons presenetation, Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman and Managing Director said, “Last year at Gibbons, we could attribute $6 million of business to our Women’s Initiative so we know the Initiative has made a direct impact on our bottom line….Diversity of thinking brings the best results.” Christine Amalfe, who is the Chair of the Employment Law section added, “There is no doubt that there is a business case for promoting, retaining and advancing women in law firms and in every company. And if the senior management gets that, even in difficult economic times, they will find a way to continue.”

All the companies also stressed the importance of “buy in” from men at all levels of the organization. In both the general session and the breakout sessions, panelist after panelist cited the “men who get it” – those who champion the career development, mentoring and networking programs to ensure that highly capable women are in the pipeline and to encourage female representation in management.

During the luncheon session, Andrea Jung, Chairman & CEO of Avon Products, Inc. had an in-depth dialogue with Ms. Lang. The two covered a wide range of topics including how Ms. Jung’s traditional Chinese upbringing impacted her leadership style and career, her rise within the ranks of Avon, the hard choices she had to make along the way, and how she handles the sticky issue of work/life balance.

Stay tuned for more coverage over the next couple of weeks on the award-winning companies and the topics addressed at the conference, including work-life effectiveness, the effect of the unwritten rules on women’s advancement and the elements of an inclusive corporate culture.

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18th Annual FIA Futures Services Division OpTech Conference

For operations and information technology professionals from FCMs, brokerage firms, banks, exchanges and money management firms.

If you have questions, please call our office at 202-466-5460 for assistance.

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Foreign Women Lawyers’ Association Monthly Meeting (Tokyo)

Discussion Topic: Korean Comfort Women: The Pros and Cons of Using International Human Rights Law as an Advocacy Platform

The FWLA is honored to invite Dr. Etsuro Totsuka, Professor of International Human Rights Law at Ryukoku University’s School of Law, as our special guest speaker for our April 7th meeting. Dr. Totsuka will address the international and domestic legal issues arising in connection with, and his first hand experiences, defending the rights of the Comfort Women — namely, the women who were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during World War II. Dr. Totsuka has been actively advocating on behalf of these women, mostly Korean, since 1992. He will share the challenges he has faced raising the issue at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, the Japanese Government’s counter-argument and attitude, the United Nation’s jurisdiction over slavery, actions taken by the United Nations, the de facto impunity of responsible parties, the interpretation of the 1965 Korea-Japan Agreement in light of historical facts, and proposed legislative solutions by the National Diet. Dr. Totsuka will also share some of the success stories. Temple University School of Law, Japan Campus is offering one MCLE credit* to U.S. qualified attorneys attending this meeting. Please bring your state attorney ID number (if applicable) so that you can complete the necessary paperwork at the meeting.We hope you will be able to join us for this informative presentation and unique opportunity to meet Dr. Totsuka. Please invite your friends and colleagues to attend this meeting.FWLA meetings are open to the public. Everyone — men and women, lawyers and those interested in the law or simply the featured topic of discussion — are always welcome to attend our meetings so please invite your friends and colleagues to attend this timely presentation. Guests do not need to accompany a member.

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Movers and Shakers: Metal Industry

coils.jpgBy Sima Matthes (New York City)

A quick Google search of “Women in Metal” generates a long list of women in heavy metal bands and women clad only in metal. Fortunately, a more in depth search reveals that there are women working in the metal industry today, climbing to the upper echelons of some of the top companies in the category.

There’s a woman in charge at Carpenter Technology (#15 in the category, #906 on the Forbes 1000 in 2008). Anne L. Stevens, who joined the company in 2006, is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Stevens had previously been at Ford Motor Company, and held progressively responsible positions there over her 16-year tenure, including EVP of Ford Motor Company and COO of Ford in the Americas. Prior to that, she worked at Exxon Corporation, holding engineering, manufacturing and marketing positions. She has a B.S. in Mechanical and Materials Engineering from Drexel University and did post graduate work at Rutgers University.

Over at Schnitzer Steel (#757/#13 in the category), Tamara Lundgren serves as President and CEO. Ms. Lundgren has been with the company just 4 years, coming aboard in 2005 as Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, and progressing to EVP Strategy and Investments and President of Shared Services. She was elected to her current position in December 2008. She brings her experience as a managing director at JP Morgan Chase’s London Office and Deutsche Bank AG, as well as her experience as a partner at Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington, D.C. Ms. Lundgren is a graduate of Wellesley College and Northwestern University School of Law.

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Voice of Experience: Nina Simosko, Head of the Global Ecosystem & Partner Group, SAP

Nina_Simosko___Web_Photo_1_.jpgby Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

“Whether you’re studying an instrument, exercising or tackling a business issue head-on, be sure to understand that there are real choices in how we go about accomplishing whatever it is we are doing. There’s an expression that comes to mind: ‘There is never enough time to do something correct the first time, but there is always time to do it over again. Be sure to assess the needs of each situation and decide what is most important before taking your first steps.'”

So writes Nina Simosko on her eponymous blog ninasimosko.com. Ms. Simosko is Head of the Global Ecosystem & Partner Group at software leader SAP. She keeps a schedule that would lend itself readily to proclamations of being too busy to care about the details of how things happen; her global role requires her attention for more than the standard 9 to 5 day. “I don’t have the luxury of working in a time zone…to me, it is just one continuum. I am on the phone with the Europeans at 4 in the morning (in the car on the way to the gym for my morning workout) and the folks in Asia Pacific at 11 at night. I work whatever hours are required for me to do my job.”

Yet she manages to attend to the details of both her work and her personal life. Simosko cites her strong supportive relationships with husband and friends among her proudest personal achievements. “My career puts a large demand on my time. And I love the fact that people get it. It would be horrible to be in a relationship with someone who didn’t get the stress and the time a career like this takes.” Read more

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The Women’s Economic Summit

Did you know….

  • By the year 2010, women will control 60% of the wealth of the US?

  • Over the last 30 years, women have filled two out of every three new jobs worldwide?

  • 10.1 million firms are owned by women, employ more than 13 million people, and generate $1.9 trillion in sales as of 2008?

Join us for a unique event focusing on the increasingly powerful role of women in the business and economic worlds.

Together, we will explore where we’ve been, chart the progress and influence women have on the world today, and illuminate the economic power of women of the future. You will learn from some of the world’s leading experts on the economics of women, including Alison Maitland, co‐author of Why Women Mean Business‐ Understanding the Emergence of our Next Economic Revolution”; Beverly A. Holmes, Chair for the Center for Women’s Business Research; Marie Cocco, award‐winning columnist of the Washington Post; and former Lt. Governor Evelyn Murphy, author of Getting Even: Why Women Don’t Get Paid Like Men and What To Do About It.

And you will walk away with powerful tools and strategies to strengthen and grow your economic influence, both personally and professionally.

For information, contact Susanne Ferarra, MVVF – Women’s Collaborative, at sferrara@mvvf.org or Kate McDonough at kate@waterfieldbc.com. More information and registration are available here.

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