Our Favorite Women in November07

In November,07, the women on Fox Business News were three of the top five women searched for on NewsonWomen.com. Jenna Lee was number one, with Tracy Byrnes and Nicole Petallides not far behind. (Image of Jenna borrowed from foxbusiness.com.) The new Business Network on Fox has given a number of opportunities to women reporters and anchors. Other major companies appointing women to important positions in November included Amcore Financial, Bon-Ton Stores, Nautilus, Bank of America, Sharper Image, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly Clark, Reader’s Digest, Mass Mutual, LandAmerica, New York Life, Belo Corporation, BET Networks and Duke Energy.

This month marketing guru Kirsten Osolind, whose Chicago marketing firm Re:Invention helps companies market their products to women, asked me to be a guest writer on her blog. In my guest postings which are based on the individual achievements I cover on NewsonWomen, I discuss things like what helps women get ahead such as education and experience; how to use the power of giving to improve your community and your career; and our strength of numbers. Read what I had to say on Kirsten’s blog.

Also in November, the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA) gave Johnson and Johnson an award for their women’s leadership program, and released findings of a study done with Booz Allen Hamilton on how to create a corporate environment where women can succeed. The study came up with six essential elements to create the right environment including senior management support, a merit based culture, tracking systems, leadership training, and work flexibility. Scroll down and read more about it in the J&J  and HBA post. I think these elements are key to success in corporate America. I do, however, have one more to add that was not mentioned in their summary. As I noted on Kirsten’s blog, most of the women about whom I post are very well educated. Advanced degrees definitely enhance your ability to move up the corporate ladder. And the need to study math is highlighted in my post on strength in numbers.

November has provided us with a new vision. It is clear from HBA how companies should help women get ahead. And it is clear from my posts how women can help themselves get ahead. It also became clear that we need to help other women get ahead for the sake of our own careers as well as theirs. Send the six elements or this post to your bosses, HR people, Diversity Officers and friends. I would also like you to join me in the “Education Leads to Leadership” Initiative. We can make a difference by going back to our high schools and colleges and encouraging young women to study math no matter what their career interests, to look towards advanced degrees, and to share these experiences with each other. Women are great at both sharing and community building but need to direct that effort toward helping themselves and other women get ahead. It is the people who know how to harness the power of the community and the power of sharing that are making millions today like Google and Facebook and YouTube. I have already contacted my first school to encourage advanced degrees and leadership training. I intend to contact many more. You should too. In this time of giving, this is a gift that doesn’t cost a thing.

Comments

[Daniel]

Jenna Lee is one of the most intelligent and ambitious women working in television news today. Check out Young Money's interview with her at http://www.youngmoney.com/entertainment/personalities/207