Why Women Leaders?

My choice to focus on aspiring women leaders is two-fold. According to a recent report, although more women graduate with master’s degrees and are managers, few women become senior leaders (i.e., CEOs, CFOs, etc.). Women are almost half (47%) of the total workforce in the U.S., but only a fraction (4%) were CEO at Fortune 500 companies.* Women are also underrepresented in small businesses. Though more women start businesses, only 3 out of 10 get federal contracts.**

Women-owned businesses pump about $3 trillion into the economy. Banks reject women business owners’ loan or credit line applications at least three times before approval.

And, on average, it takes twenty-two attempts to get equity capital. Almost half of women business owners did not seek money in 2009.***

There is also another crisis looming. More women are leaving corporate America in favor of having more control of their lives.**** Whether that is building their own businesses or pursuing other interests.

This is a problem. In coming years, more executives will retire. Women make up almost half of the professional workforce and are getting advanced degrees faster than males. As more women leave, the number of qualified candidates decreases.

Even more so, it is important to keep women from leaving and train this talented group of professionals to run these companies. Only if one deals with the reasons why women are leaving and removes the barriers that prevent women from advancing.

My Personal Reason

On a more personal note, I grew up with three sisters with a dad who wanted to have a son, and it showed. My father grew up in a time when women were expected to be homemakers while their husbands worked. If women were to work outside the home, it was not in the traditional jobs (i.e., nurse, secretary). These jobs are essential and honorable, but it was not my dream.

We butted heads many times, as I had dreams of going into business, and it was just hard for him to see that. But these experiences were not just limited to home.

Growing up, I observed double standards on women throughout church, school, television, and society. I could not understand why it was so and remember thinking how unfair.

Even now, I continue to observe double standards regarding women. I see how double standards have caused women to second guess whether they can pull the job off.

I’ve seen women question whether they had the skills and abilities for a new position. I’ve seen where some women will not submit their resume for a new position because they don’t think they are qualified.

I remember my excitement when talking to my friends, encouraging them to go for it, and seeing them excel when they did. This resonated with me, and I found my passion for helping women to see themselves as qualified leaders and risk takers and to have a voice.

All are Welcome

Men are more than welcome to work with me. A majority of the information can benefit everyone, but there are some areas that may resonate more with women.

Bottom Line

Now is our moment, women. Let’s chase our dreams and inspire others to do the same. I believe that helping other women succeed in their careers is my calling.

*Catalyst. Catalyst Quick Take: Women in U.S. Management and Labor Force. New York: Catalyst, 2013. Retrieved from

**U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce (n.d.). Retrieved from

.***Center for Women’s Business Research: Women Impacting Public Policy (n.d.). Women Accessing Capital: Women, Money and Opportunity. Retrieved from

****Cabrera, E. F. (2007). Opting out and opting in: Understanding the complexities of women’s career transitions. Career Development International, 12(3), 218-237