Molly's Letter

I recently came across a very discouraging article in the Opinions section of USA Today. Written by Ilene Lang, CEO of Catalyst, a non-profit research organization working globally to expand opportunities for women in business, she makes some very observant points about whether or not "women have shattered the glass ceiling."

I want to quote one of her points to really put the situation in perspective, "We received our MBAs the same year AT&T awarded 15,000 women and minorities $15 million in back pay and $23 million in raises in the wake of the landmark bellwomen discrimination suit. Many thought we walked into the business world at the very moment the glass ceiling was shattered once and for all. How wrong we were."

The statistics showing why women should be faring better in their career advancement are numerous, and it is distressing to think that in the 21st century we still have not reached more of an equal playing field in the top tiers of our organizations. Women make up over 50% of the labor force and 51.4% of all managerial positions in the U.S. So, why is it that only 15.7% of corporate office positions in the Fortune 500 are held by women and only a mere 3% of CEOs in the Fortune 500 are women? The 2009 Census says that women are now just as likely as men to have completed college. Women also have drawn even with men in holding advanced degrees. As reported by Hope Yen of the Associated Press, women represented roughly half of those in the U.S. with a master's degree or higher, due largely to years of steady increases in women opting to pursue a medical or law degree.

After working on the issue of advancement for women in corporate America for over 10 years, I was certain that I would have worked my way out of a job by now. No such luck. Despite all the statistics, all the advances, all the degrees earned, and positions we have been promoted to, and all the desire on the part of high performing women to advance -- we are still, in 2010, running smack dab into the "glass ceiling" -- and it has not shattered. In fact, it has hardly cracked.

So, what can women do to better strategize their careers? Our most recent book, Breaking Into the Boys' Club: 8 Ways for Women to Get Ahead in Business, has several insights on how to hurdle the challenges placed in front of women, intentionally or unintentionally, in the workplace. For instance, our research has shown that women are not as effective at strategic networking as men are. However, the phrase, "it's not what you know -- it's who you know" has never rung more true than with the current economy, where open positions are receiving hundreds of qualified applicants. To help women strategically network, women must understand that their visibility with the influential players in their companies, their ability to self promote for important assignments, and their inclusion in the information pipeline are essential ingredients for their effectiveness as executives and their advancement. Networking and getting out of your offices is NOT an option!

Lastly, it takes courage today to be a strong leader exhibiting dignity, integrity and firm resolve. Crises, a multitude of distractions a day, ambiguity and the unknown test a leader's strength every day. Women are ideally suited temperamentally and sociologically to deal with the complexity of today's world but we do not always have the confidence to do so. We need to believe in our own worth, be proud of all that we have accomplished, use our voices to get our ideas heard and feel secure about stepping up for what is right. Ten years from now, I want to be out of work, comfortably retired, maybe on a beach, and I remain positive that women will find their rightful place in today's business world and common ground with their male colleagues.

Share your thoughts on 'Molly's Letter' on our new website blogging page. Click here to post your comments!