Author Archive
Of Beauties and Beasts
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
I was watching a business channel, CNBC, the other day and it struck me – every woman commentator was glamorous and the men, well, not so much. Why, on a television show devoted to business, must the women be on the younger side with lots of hair and make-up – while the men are mostly aging and craggy (read here: normal)? I realize it’s not uniformly the case, but when you think about it, women on TV are too often portrayed as sexy and attractive – frequently in stark contrast to their male counterparts.
There are a number of good examples. In the popular series “House” on FOX, the female character who is head of the hospital (as well as the female docs on the medical team) is gorgeous and wearing improbably low cut tops and skirts two sizes too small. These women may be in charge and brilliant, yet they also are made to look like Barbie dolls. Same situation on many other shows featuring women professionals – I’m sure you can think of some.
57 More Years Until the Gender Pay Gap will Close
Posted by: | CommentsThe gender pay gap isn’t isolated to the United States. According to a study by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), if current salary trends continue, it will take another 57 years for the gender pay gap to close in the United Kingdom. In other words, another half century will go by before men and women will earn the same wages for doing the same work.
The Chartered Management Institute also learned in its recent study that female managers’ salaries did increase by 2.8% in the past 12 months (compared to 2.3% for men). However, those same female managers still earned an average of nearly $16,000 less than their male counterparts. That pay gap isn’t isolated to management positions. While the gap might vary a bit at different levels on the corporate ladder, it still exists. For example, the gap is smaller among junior management workers, but it’s even higher (24% gap) at the executive level.
Interestingly, it has been forty years since the Equal Pay Act was passed in the United Kingdom. However, it appears that it will take a full eighty years, nearly a century, for equal pay to actually become a reality.
Trammels of a Business Consultant …and how you can learn from them
Posted by: | CommentsGuest Post by Antar Salim (you can learn more about Antar at the end of this post)
Consultative activities and organizational development interventions can be riddled with flaws and drawbacks. On the surface, it may appear to be a negative statement, but many consultants can learn from these trammels and create capacities to better serve their clients. Whether you are dealing with business management, marketing and sales, finance or human resources consulting; following this article will teach the taboos that many consultants make and provides insight into how to avoid them in the future.
There are a number of errors that a consultant can make that hampers their ability to serve their clients. There are a number of complications encountered by consultants, including colluding with clients, placing financial gain ahead of the client’s needs, and under estimating the importance of implementation. Each type of flaw falls into one of two categories: a) purpose and b) partnership.
Let’s explore the broad component of purpose first. There are four elements of purpose:
- Defining the problem in the consultant’s terms
- Focusing on the problem, not the people
- Realizing the process is as important as the product
Awww – Don’t Be So Modest!
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
A recent study by Rutgers University found that males who acted “modestly” in interview situations were not considered likable and their modesty was viewed as a sign of weakness. Modesty in women, however, was not seen as a negative. The research was done by asking men and women volunteers to view actors in videotaped job interviews. According to a study leader, Corinne A. Moss-Racusin, “Women are allowed to be weak while this trait is strongly prohibited in men. By contrast, dominance is reserved for men and prohibited for women.”
Talk about gender stereotyping!
What caught my eye about these findings was the continued double standard for behavior in the workplace. Moss-Racusin put it this way – “For men and women, there are things they must and must not be.” That reminded me that there are plenty of men who don’t appreciate the expectations set on them anymore than we women do. So, in the spirit of equality, I submit that this gender stereotyping has got to stop – on both sides – in order for workplaces to maximize the talents of all.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 2, 2010
Inaugural Women’s Conference to be Hosted in New York City
On September 20, 2010, Sarah Brown, Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and wife of the former UK Prime Minister, will take centre stage when she chairs the first ever WIE Symposium (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise) in New York City, with
co-hosts designer and Urban Zen Founder Donna Karan and Huffington Post founder Arianna Huffington. With the central theme “Women Inspiring Women” and timed to coincide with the Clinton Global Initiative and the UN General Assembly, this inspirational Symposium invites prominent women from the fields of politics, philanthropy, media, fashion and the arts to inspire and empower the future generation of women leaders, advocates and entrepreneurs.
Drawing on the energy and drive of New York City, the WIE Symposium will feature powerful speakers from around the world, challenging panels and informative lectures with panel topics including the future role of women in technology, women leading the way in business and a White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) philanthropy and advocacy panel with Sarah Brown. Five prizewinning young women advocates from Africa and Asia will join the women of New York to speak about why we must end the global scandal of women dying needlessly in childbirth.
Women and the Changing Global Economy
Posted by: | CommentsThe numbers have been coming in steadily over the past few years, and there is no way to deny anymore that women are taking greater control of the U.S. economy (and much of the global economy) and doing it quietly and quickly.
For example, back in 2008, U.S. News and World Report released data telling us that women controlled 60% of the wealth in the United States. That figure was estimated to be approximately $10-$12 trillion. At the same time, U.S. News and World Report projected that women will control $22 trillion of all wealth in the United states by 2020. That’s just a decade away!
Considering data released in 2009 by The Nielsen Company revealed almost all income growth in the United States over the past 15-20 years came from women, that U.S. News and World Report projection shouldn’t be very shocking. The Small Business Administration has reported in recent years that women-owned businesses are far outpacing all other businesses in terms of growth. The bottom-line is that women are making their presence in the economy better known.
Are You Ever “Out of Office?”
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
Some of you probably remember when a vacation was truly “away from the office” time and an Out of Office email reply ensured it stayed that way. In some ways, those were the good old days. After all, don’t we all need uninterrupted time away from business?
With the advent of the PDA and other newer devices, the game has changed. We have the convenience of being able to text, email and talk to clients and colleagues 24/7, but the flip side is that it’s more difficult to take a week (or, heaven forbid, more!) off without the intrusions of work, no matter what company vacation policy says. Wherever you’re going – with just a few exceptions – you can be reached. So it becomes a choice – how available will I be on vacation?
I believe this is a decision that has to be made on an individual basis – based on your job culture and type of work, client/colleague expectations, family/other demands, and your own well-being. The well-being part cannot be minimized – it is extremely important to recharge mentally and physically. And figuring out what exactly that means to you is vital.
Managing Time for DCAA Compliance
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Veronica Eyenga, contributing Women On Business writer
DCAA requires that a contractors’ timekeeping process, collectively including policies, manual procedures and tools be compliant. To be compliant, the software must allow:
- Employees to charge time to authorized, open projects
- Employee to access time through a secure password
- Employee to records viewable and auditable comments for any timesheet change
- Supervisors to approve the entire timesheet
- All time must be reported (total time accounting)
- Administrators monitor delinquent timesheets
While the DCAA does not endorse any one software for this daunting task, it is up to the contractor to ensure that the system they use meet the minimum stated features.
All in all, timekeeping is important because the information generated from them is used for payroll, billing, project planning, cost accounting and pricing purposes. Efficient timekeeping can maximize revenue by minimizing disallowed or disputed charges, and accurate data can save companies a fortune in misreported cost information.
Just Say “No”
Posted by: | CommentsPost by Jane K. Stimmler, contributing Women on Business writer
For those of us out here in the business world, the name of the game is seeking opportunities to get new clients and new assignments. We give and receive tips on how to build relationships, promote our accomplishments and communicate effectively – all with the end game of getting more and better work. For entrepreneurs, this translates into customers with new business. For corporate folks, it can mean broadening the scope of responsibility through a promotion or a new job.
But what if the prospective new client or assignment doesn’t feel right? Maybe you’re uncomfortable about it, but aren’t sure why. Is it ever appropriate to turn down work or a promotion? I believe, in the right circumstances, the answer is an emphatic “yes.” Don’t get me wrong – if you’re feeling a bit uneasy because you’re presented with a “stretch” assignment and your confidence is lacking, it is likely you’ll want to buck up and go for it. But there are times when saying “no” is not only the right thing to do, but also is positively empowering! In fact, as an entrepreneur, I’ve come to the view that while it’s flattering (not to mention potentially lucrative) when people want to do business with my firm – if it isn’t right for us – it’s usually a mistake to take it on.
