Ten Inspiring Voices

iStock_000014186302XSmallBy Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Today we’re celebrating our 2000th post (check out our Founder and CEO Nicki Gilmour’s article this morning on inclusive leadership), by reflecting on the things we’ve learned while working to inform, empower, and inspire women to break the glass ceiling.

As Editor of The Glass Hammer, one of the most fulfilling parts of my job is the opportunity to interview extraordinary women and tell their stories through our profile series like Voices of Experience, Movers and Shakers, and Intrepid Woman.

Today I’m sharing ten things I’ve learned from our Voice of Experience profiles that have personally impacted me and my journey – I hope you’ll find them just as inspiring!

1. Think About the Kind of Life You Want to Live

To illustrate the importance of what she called “living the life of the possible,” Sheree Stomberg, Head of O&T Administration, Global Operations & Technology Chief Administrative Office at Citi, shared a moving story about her grandfather.

“He lived life with no regrets – he was very active into his 90s. He lived the art of the possible,” she said. “When he was 65 he suffered a heart attack. The doctor said he must live a life without physical exertion, not eat food that was too hot or drink things that were too cold… he looked at the list and tore it up. The doctor said he wouldn’t live 5 years.”

She continued, “When he was in his 70s, we went mountain climbing in Alaska together. And when he was 75 he went back to tell the doctor about it.”

“I’m not advising people to discredit medical advice,” she joked. “But he always looked for how to move life forward. That’s what I mean about living the life of the possible.”

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Boldly Go: How to Take Risks and Overcome Fear

iStock_000013882253XSmallContributed by Kristin Kaufman, Alignment, Inc.

“Boldly going where no man (or woman) has gone before” has become a modern day cliché, representing adventure, bravery, and futuristic thinking. Though, if we’re completely honest with ourselves, many women will admit they simply follow suit as leaders. We may up the current game in our company and in our personal lives by being competitive in how we play the game; yet, how often do we really change the game?

Shareholder pressure, personal and professional fear, recessionary conditions, and myriad factors contribute to more conservative approaches to work and life. Yet, as leaders and even aspiring leaders in today’s world, it is our job and our responsibility to chart new paths. If we don’t encourage playing dangerously and coloring outside the lines, who will? We must continue to innovate, push, explore, and make it safe for others to do so – otherwise, we will stagnate, avoid risks, become complacent, and ultimately not progress in our roles and contribution to our organizations.

So, let’s break it down. If we truly want to lead, what are a few things we can consider to improve our success ratio or at least minimize our risk of totally flaming out?

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Do Female Business Travelers Have Different Needs? Survey Says: Yes

iStock_000006791794XSmall_1_.jpgBy Andrea Newell (Grand Rapids, MI)

Recently The Economist posted a piece that scoffed at the idea that female travelers had different concerns or needs than male travelers, as suggested in a related article on the Columbus Dispatch. However, the travel industry begs to differ.

Although there have always been women travelers , it is only in the last two decades when data shows that women make up a significant percentage of travelers, particularly business travelers, that hotels and airlines have taken note of this growing demographic. In 2007, The Herman Group reported that 43% of business travelers worldwide were women. Pioneers like American Airlines and Wyndham Hotels have taken not, launching women’s-only programs aimed at female travelers and offer amenities and services aimed specifically at women’s needs.

In the April 2009 article, Hotels Attempt To Attract Women Travelers Through Amenities, in the Marketing to Women newsletter, EPM Communications reports that “nearly all hotel executives say their outreach efforts are gender-neutral, yet they add that women’s preferences are important considerations since women act as the key decision-maker in 70% of travel plans.” MaryBeth Bond, an expert on women’s adventure travel and author of 11 books, reports on her website that there has been a 230% increase in women-only travel companies in the past six years. She cites estimates that women will spend $125 billion on travel in the next year. She and Kathy Ameche, a seasoned business traveler for over 20 years and author of The Woman Road Warrior, both affirm that while traveling, women’s needs are different from men’s.

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Four Trends for Your Work Wardrobe

Contributed by the editors of Corporette.com

Much of corporate clothing is based on styles that never go out of fashion — the perfect black suit, a strand of beautiful Mikimoto pearls, the soft cashmere twinset — and we do our best to advise our readers to invest in those items. In fact, in a recent poll on our site our readers said they would avoid all of the “trends” that most other fashion sites are advising readers to wear this season. So we’re not going to tell you to wear a slouchy boyfriend blazer over your skin-colored jumpsuit while clomping around in platform heels. But we will tell you about some of the milder trends that are a great way to update your working wardrobe.

smt_s029316wht_fnt.jpgThe shawl cardigan: This look is available in a variety of price points, and is a great way to update your summer wardrobe if, like us, you spend it shivering in an over-air-conditioned office. Our pick: this longsleeve pointed front cardigan from Smitten, with just a hint of an empire waist for a more flattering look. It’s available at CoutureCandy.com for $102 (with sale code 20Day).

br627778_04vliv01.jpgThe boyfriend cardigan: Can you tell we spend a lot of time in air-conditioning? This is another great look that’s on the trendier side, but can easily be adapted to a working wardrobe. This look skims the body, hitting past the hips. We would wear this look with pencil skirts or sheath dresses. Our pick: the ballet sleeve four-button cardigan from Banana Republic, priced at $79. IMAGE LINK:

0465112186361R_300x400.jpgThe North/South tote: The briefcase bag for women will always be in style, but we’ve been seeing more and more North/South totes available on the market. These can be worn over the shoulder (and are different from the “shopper” totes that were more popular a while ago). We’d suggest trying it in a fun color, like this crisp green tote from Tory Burch, available at Saks.com for $535.

9755_788670_p.jpgGray accessories: Gray shoes, gray tights, gray bags — they’re everywhere — and they’re an extremely versatile addition to a wardrobe, whether you dress in neutrals or bold colors. We suggest the Marc by Marc Jacobs Posh Turnlock Hobo, available at Zappos.com for $428.

Today’s guest post is by the editors of Corporette, a fashion and lifestyle blog for women lawyers, bankers, MBAs, consultants, and otherwise overachieving chicks. They work in conservative environments and need to look professional, but want to look fashionable.

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Passions: Documentary Filmmaking

iStock_000004892147XSmall_1_.jpgby Pamela Weinsaft (New York City)

In my opinion, the best documentary films are compelling because they allow a glimpse of otherwise inaccessible lives and lifestyles. Think of some well-known documentaries and the stories they tell: the journey of the son of a famous yet enigmatic architect trying to piece together the story of his father’s double life (My Architect); the struggle of quadriplegic young men and their quest for the wheelchair rugby Paralympics gold (Murderball); the differing expectations and, ultimately, life paths of upper and working class Brits over the course of 40+ years (The Up Series); the determination and quirkiness of a group of humans so intent on winning a new 4X4 truck that they ignore basic physical needs and stand for days in the heat hanging onto the vehicle as if for dear life (Hands on a Hard Body).

The truth is that I’ve been collecting subjects and planning out documentary films in my head for years. Maybe other people do this; however, I think it’s particularly odd because I am an energy/international business transactions attorney by training, who, until about a year ago, had no knowledge of how to actually make films.

A documentary filmmaking class at NYU changed that, and earlier this month, some classmates and I embarked on my first attempt to put what I’d learned into practice. The International Documentary Challenge, an international contest in which 130 teams from around the world research, write, film, produce and edit a short documentary in 5 days was my trial by fire.

I know it sounds a bit crazy: my very first documentary and I’m accepting the extra pressure that accompanies the very tight timeline? That said, I found the tight timeline permitted me a certain liberty from my own high expectations. It allowed me to accept that I could not possibly make a “perfect” film. It also forced the team to make quick decisions about everything including subject matter, where to film, and what to include in the film, rather than agonizing over them. And it actually gave me the impetus to do it now rather than allowing me to succumb to inertia, telling myself that I’ll do it some weekend when I can find the time, when I’m less tired, when work quiets down. Here was a built-in deadline – no ifs, ands or buts.

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Eating Well While Working

iStock_000005697170XSmall_1_.jpgBy Heather Chapman (New York City)

It’s all too easy to skip eating a proper meal these days; the long hours at our desks, on the phone, or in meetings leave us promising ourselves that tomorrow will be different. We’ll make time to go to the grocery store tonight, get up just a bit earlier to buy something, or will actually take time for lunch. Too often though, that plan gets pushed off until ‘tomorrow’ and we’re left without anything healthy to eat and several more hours ahead of us. It’s a worrying habit – one that can leave you tired, stressed, irritable, and hungry.

The whole cycle becomes worse when you factor in that many people don’t make the time for breakfast either. Not only does breakfast give us the fuel to start a new day, it also helps us maintain our weight. When we skip a meal, our body switches to starvation mode and slows down our metabolism as a means to compensate. Then, when we try and catch up at the next meal, we tend to overeat in an attempt to ingest enough calories to make up for the missing meal. Unfortunately, our bodies don’t work like that and by trying to catch-up we end up making things worse.
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Top Women to Follow on Twitter

iStock_000006561903XSmall_1_.jpgby Elizabeth Harrin (London)

Do you tweet? Twitter is a micro-blogging tool that allows you to ‘tweet’ anything – as long as it fits within 140 characters, which is the length of a standard text message. That is what has made it so popular, as you can send and receive messages by phone, or if you prefer via instant messaging or a website. People use it to update their friends with how they are and what they are doing. On the receiving end, you can choose people to receive updates from – your family, celebrities or interesting commentators.

Curious? Once you have a Twitter account you can both update your own status and receive updates from other people whom you have chosen to ‘follow’. Yes, Twitter comes with a whole new language. Since logging on for the first time recently I have learnt about following, tweeting and retweeting, hashtags, @ responses, direct messages. There isn’t space here to explain how to use Twitter to its full advantage, but there are plenty of websites dedicated to just that.

There is a lot of noise on Twitter. People send updates about their last cup of coffee, and British comedian and presenter Stephen Fry made headlines recently when he tweeted about being stuck in a lift. The information comes to you in real time format, but that doesn’t make it interesting. So how do you know who to follow? The best advice is to choose people who interest you and whom you have come across from another source. Bloggers, for example, may blog once or twice a week (like me) but tweet on a daily basis. Using Twitter you will get instant notification of new blog posts but also useful, short titbits more regularly: things that aren’t shared on the blog. I have wasted many an evening reading the profiles of the people being followed by someone I am following. If you follow my meaning.

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New Year’s Resolutions at Work

2009.jpgBy Liz O’Donnell (Boston)

As we head into a new year with a new administration, hopes run high for progress and change. Tempering those feelings, however, is the worst economy many of us have ever experienced. With these historic factors at work, many women executives are setting very specific goals for their 2009 New Year’s resolutions. Even though the statistics for New Year’s resolutions are discouraging –only 46%* are maintained after six months — these women know that people who make specific resolutions are 10 times* more likely to achieve their goals than people who don’t explicitly make resolutions. (*according to Auld Lang Syne: Success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year’s resolvers and nonresolvers)

Resolutions for women at work in 2009 fall into several categories finding work/life balance, expanding networks and skill sets and thriving in a down economy:

Finding Work/Life Balance. Says one female executive at the Bank of New York Mellon, “The resolution for me, and I think anyone, is demystifying the work life balance issues and really starting to apply them. These drastic economic times, highlight just how important it is as many of us are looking at a decrease in earnings power.”

Suzanne Hardy, sales manager for a technology solutions provider, concurs. Her top three resolutions are, “Stop working on the weekends, stop working on Christmas Eve and stop working on New Year’s Eve.”

But Hardy is conflicted. She recognizes that working weekends and holidays, “makes me a valuable employee and gives me job security, which allows me to be self sufficient and independent.”

Women have struggled for years with work/life balance, and not just working mothers. Both the Bank of New York executive and Hardy are single and don’t have children. Women are seeking a better mix of fulfillment, rest, achievement and recreation. That could mean more time volunteering, being with family or pursuing personal passions. In 2009, those desires may become stronger as women see their bonuses and commissions cut. Women could find themselves working more hours for less money just to protect their status at the office.

Expanding Network and Skill Sets. A more appealing way to find job security in turbulent times than working round the clock, is expanding your professional choices. Many women are planning to do this by learning new skills and building their networks. A poll of women executives on LinkedIn revealed many resolutions like these:

  • Become a CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional)
  • Work hard and increase my professional network
  • Maximize and increase my skills, knowledge and network.

Thrive in a Down Economy. While many women at large institutions are looking for both balance and security through better networks and new opportunities, entrepreneurial women have their sights set on survival and success for 2009. One female CEO says her New Year’s resolution is simply to rise to the top. Her goal, she says, is, “Positioning my company to be profitable in the coming year. My resolution would be to excel in order to stay alive in today’s financial difficulty.”

Lee Caraher, CEO of marketing consulting firm, Double Forte, believes in the power of making resolutions. Her no-nonsense goals for 2009 are designed to ensure her businesses continued success despite slashed budgets and dried up capital. “My resolutions are to act faster, don’t make decisions other people should make, and only keep email that matters.” says Caraher.

We’d love to hear some of your resolutions – professional or personal – for the upcoming year. We look forward to hearing from you here or on our forum!

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Executive Personal Shoppers

bfashion.JPGy Caroline Shannon (Dayton, OH)

Sure, “girls just wanna have fun” and “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but, despite conventional wisdom, shopping can sometimes rank pretty low on the list of fun things to do — especially, when you are a busy business professional who can barely squeeze in lunch let alone a trip to the department store.

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Putting the Pleasure in Business Entertaining

by Sima Matthes (New York City)

I am a fearless public speaker. I know this to be my strength, and marvel at the number of otherwise well-spoken and intelligent women who identify public speaking as their greatest business fear. I certainly understand; I was not always this confident.

I also understand because I have my own fear—well, not fear, but substantial discomfort—of business entertaining. I dislike small talk, and find it draining to be one-on-one with someone with whom I have nothing in common except a business interest. Put me before hundreds, no problem; face-to-face, I have to pretend there’s a crowd in order to get through.

I am awed by the skills of some of my colleagues and friends, moving with ease from business event to business event. At each, they are engaging, “on” and relaxed. How fortunate that I had them to turn to when, recently, I found myself faced with the prospect of an important dinner out with potential clients.

Michelle, a VP at a large public relations firm, suggested cultivating relationships with your favorite local places. She has a list of ten restaurants that she takes time to patronize regularly. She has one or two that have a great brunch, another that allows her to pre-select the menu when there’s only an hour available for lunch, and more than a few that can accommodate larger groups for dinner. She greets the staff warmly, tips the maitre d’, and knows the menus well enough to order and make recommendations confidently. She takes the time to confirm the reservation herself—no delegating of this critical task—and makes sure that the wait captain knows that she’s the host of the meal.

These relationships allow her to request the privacy she requires for particular meetings, and to pre-select the menu. She usually arrives early, positions herself at the proper place at the table, then meets her client or guest at the captain’s station without disrupting the table setting. If she meets her guest at the table, she stands as they arrive, gives them a firm handshake, and invites them to sit in the best seat, the one that looks out into the room.

Michelle and my friend Larra—a partner in a prestigious law firm—recommend tipping 20 percent or more, particularly as you’re building your relationship with those restaurants. Larra says that rather than sulk about a problem and stiffing the wait staff, cultivate the ability to speak up kindly and professionally for the resolution you seek.

Larra regularly arrives fifteen minutes before her guests, and arranges to pre-pay the bill. She takes care to handle even the smallest detail, including tipping the coatroom attendant. She makes it her job to smooth over every problem, and allow her guest a carefree experience.

She offers her guests a “beverage” rather than a “drink.” This may seem like just semantics, but many of her corporate clients discourage drinking, especially at business lunches. This is an important detail—knowing the corporate culture of your industry and your client’s company.

Another friend, Candace, related an anecdote about a $700 business lunch for four people early in her career. It seems that she was unaware that she could set limits discreetly, and found herself with clients who knew no limits. After their third expensive bottle of wine, she realized she was in trouble. When the credit card bill arrived at her firm, a lesson followed the reproof: Set the limits on hospitality by casually suggesting an appetizer and some of the items on the menu. Discuss the menu with the wait staff, and then defer to your guest. If your guest orders an expensive item on the menu, you should as well. You want your guest to feel comfortable with his or her choice.

It occurs to me that the turning point in my fear of public speaking came the day I realized that with preparation and timing, I could get through even the biggest presentation. I expect that the same is true for business entertaining: preparation and timing are the keys to success.

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