11 Leadership Lessons from "Crazy Jack" Ma

The World Economic Forum offers everyone an opportunity to interact directly with global leaders in business, politics, economics, and civil society who are "committed to improving the state of the world."

The world's best minds are corralled onto stages and into various types of sessions to share their findings, their visions, and their practical guidance for the world at large as well as for their own countries, governments, businesses, and communities. These decision makers are shaping the future with each word and deed. However, it's not just about talking - it's about doing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...in 2008-2009 when the financial crisis came I think it's better to go back to work because we can never win the world by talking...

                                                                    Jack Ma, World Economic Forum 2015

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sure - attendance at the event in Switzerland is by invitation only, but you don't need to be there physically in order to engage. You can put on your pajamas and listen in as I did for several of the live-streamed sessions or you can listen to the playbacks and read, read, read... I'm working my way through talks, panels, debates, and reports with the goal of using what I learn to grow and contribute in bigger, better ways. 

It's Your World!

Safe to say that it's important to know who these leaders really are and what they're planning on our collective behalf - and to find ways to actively participate as much as possible. This is my second year of remote "streaming" participation and every moment has been well spent.

Many individuals may be waiting for leaders in their companies, colleges, governments, or communities returning from the WEF to distill the findings into strategies for them to execute.

Why wait? It's your world!

Empower yourself with first-hand knowledge of what's going on then develop your personal and professional strategies based on your new insights. Change is not new and will be forever present. However, the pace of change is astounding. Waiting for someone else to guide you may leave you at their whimsy - living their dreams instead of living your own.

11 Leadership Lessons from "Crazy Jack" Ma

One of the most impressive talks I replayed was Charlie Rose's interview with Alibaba's founder Jack Ma (An Insight, An Idea with Jack Ma). I'm now a huge fan. Hearing about his humble beginnings made me want to work even harder to make a difference. "Crazy Jack" has a lot to teach about following your own path no matter what others have to say about it - and you know what? He's right...

The historical and gargantuan nature of Alibaba's IPO continues to give everyone in business a lot to think about. His company has managed to shift business models for millions of small and medium companies around the globe in ways never seen before and has also created job opportunities for millions of individuals.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...I thought when I was young I said everything is possible. Now I know not everything is possible...you have to think about the others...customers, society, employees, share holders, so many things...

If you continue to work hard there are possibilities

For the first five years I just wanted to survive. So many people's lives changed. For the first three years we made zero revenue. We were so excited to continue to work...

                                                                    Jack Ma, World Economic Forum 2015

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What if Jack Ma hadn't followed his own vision? What if he had listened to the naysayers around him? What if he had quit because various supporters pulled back? What if Jack hadn't failed so many times throughout his life? What if?...

We can say "what if" about virtually all of the breakthrough moments that have occurred in human history. What if those crazy folks had been normal? I for one wouldn't want to live in that kind of world. Crazy is good! According to Jack, being crazy is not the same as being stupid.

In addition to empowering millions of young people, Alibaba also focuses on gender diversity and inclusion - another of the world's greatest challenges. The employee population of Alibaba contains 47% women (was 51% prior to recent acquisitions). The top layers of the company also shows strong gender diversity results with women representing 33% of company managers while there are 24% women in senior management including the CEO, CFO, and CPO.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

...One of the secrets of our success is that we have a lot of women... 

If you want to win in the 21st century, make sure that other people are powerful and better than you are, you have to empower others

Women think about others more than they think about themselves...

                                                                    Jack Ma, World Economic Forum 2015

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've listened to Jack's interview several times, each time gathering more insight into his secret sauce. Some of Jack's key leadership philosophies include: 

     [1] If everybody believes that your idea is good, you have no chance

     [2] Go global

     [3] Calm down... There's always a way out

     [4] Keep yourself balanced

     [5] If you want to change the world, change yourself

     [6] To win in the 21st century, empower others

     [7] Pay close attention to quality

     [8] Grow your mind, value, and wisdom

     [9] Spend more time with young people

     [10] Never give up, believe in what you're doing

     [11] Work hard, don't complain

There are so many more insights that could have been included on this list such as embody humility, study your world, and get used to failure. Despite over 30 lifetime failures including 10 rejections from Harvard, "Crazy Jack" is someone to know and learn from. After all his results speak volumes.

What will you learn (or what have you learned) from Jack Ma's story? Leave your insights in the comments section.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Check out these and some of my other LinkedIn feature articles:

• Mommy, Do Entrepreneurs Have To Go To Work?
• Success Leaves Clues
• Act Like A Lady, Think...
• Act Like A Lady? Who's Acting!
• and more...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I (We) Woke Up Like This

"...to get all Beyoncè about it, People I woke up like this..."

Shonda Rhimes, executive producer of ABC's "TGIT" prime time line up, is another in a long line of amazing women who make me say "Wow!". 

Last week Shonda's acceptance speech for The Hollywood Reporter's Sherry Lansing Leadership Award had me glued to my computer screen with tears streaming down my cheeks as she recounted the tale of women who were and are responsible for gigantic cracks in the glass ceiling making it possible for others to simply walk through. With intrigue she proclaimed that she herself had not broken through any glass ceilings.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have not broken through any glass ceilings. If I had broken through any glass ceilings, I would know. If I had broken through a glass ceiling, I would have felt some cuts, I would have some bruises. There’d be shards of glass in my hair. I’d be bleeding, I’d have wounds.

 Shonda Rhimes, THR Speech

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Those Who Went Before Me Already Had It Handled

With such excruciating pain all around us right now, Shonda's speech was a welcomed tribute to "them" - those women pioneers who suffered cuts, bruises, and shards of glass in their hair as they tackled gravity-defying moves while breaking down doors and climbing ladders of all types. Shonda put into words what I've felt for years but had not yet articulated - not even to myself. My tears weren't for me. Instead they were for "them" - those who went before me and handled it.

To be clear my life is not without challenges - no one's is, but none of my challenges so far have become ultimate showstoppers. I always see options and I act on them as I see fit. There are so many people of all types who can't say the same and it's beyond painful to think about. Self-determination is everything and all lives matter. All lives matter! Our life circumstances may be different, but the breath that we breathe comes from a single source (#ICantBreathe).


I Woke Up Like This

I wasn't escorted to school by armed guards. I haven't been told "you can't sit there" or "you can't pee here". I haven't been barred from pursuing higher education in fields or at schools of my choosing. I wasn't held back from my desired role in the military. I haven't been kept from pursuing or acquiring progressive roles in my career. I haven't been barred from purchasing homes in my chosen neighborhoods. I haven't been harassed by unscrupulous bosses or cops. I haven't been full-stopped from pursuing my dreams because of my gender or color. With a bit of Shonda and Beyoncè sass and class, I too proclaim "I woke up like this".

Yet...

I've been followed around in stores of all types by super "helpful" associates. I've been stared down at stop lights because of the kind of cars that I drive. I've experienced the "double-take" when I walk into a room full of executives or when I open the door to my home for a service call. It's been said that I sound really "intelligent" when I speak. 

All of these "signals" are code for what today's subtle racism and racial profiling often looks and feels like for black and brown women. I have to teach my daughter these things in order to reinforce her with the armor she'll need as she lives and breathes - or as she charges up stairs or break down barriers of her own. Like Shonda, glass ceilings won't be her reality. 

She woke up like this.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Think of them heads up, eyes on the target, running full speed gravity-be damned towards that thick layer of glass that is the ceiling. Running, full speed - and crashing. Crashing into that ceiling and falling back. Crashing into it and falling back. Into it and falling back. Woman after woman. Each one running and each one crashing - everyone falling.

How many women had to hit that glass before the first crack appeared? How many cuts did they get, how many bruises? How hard did they have to hit the ceiling? How many women had to hit that glass to ripple it, to send out a thousand hairline fractures? How many women had to hit that glass before the pressure of their effort caused it to evolve from a thick pane of glass into just a thin sheet of splintered ice?

 Shonda Rhimes, THR Speech

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We Woke Up Like This

The protests all around the country are in response to what many black and brown people have known for generations. We woke up like this.

The Ferguson and New York grand jury results were not a real surprise and neither were the initial responses. The narrative was (and is) predictable. I'm always afraid for the black and brown males in my life - for my brothers and especially for my nephews. It's an underlying fear that I wake up with. It's always there.

I caution my daughter to keep her mind open because negatively judging others is what causes most of the challenges that we see playing out in our lives and all around the world. I tell her that it's necessary to make smart judgement calls, but judging others and justifying it through the use of outdated rules and systems is a different matter altogether.

Negative judgments say "This is the way the system works so why can't you just get it right!" or "I'm right and you're wrong!". Smart judgement calls say "You can do this or that, but I choose this instead" or "What can be done to make it better?" or "What can I do to make it better for more of us?". Smart judgment calls consider the common good.

Turn the light on in your heart and mind. Take a look at whether you're making negative judgments or smart judgement calls. It's in all of our best interest to do away with negative judgments and instead to make smart judgement calls.

We all woke up like this, but we can change what happens next...

Congratulations Shonda Rhimes! You rock!

Under STEMulated

Technology is neutral.

 

 

It doesn't care who or where you are. If you have viable Internet access via any type of device, then you can participate in this brave new world. Yet there is a strange and persistent gap among males and females in STEM fields. Never mind that males and females use technology at the same rates - the creative thinkers, researchers, engineers, developers, builders, and owners of this brave new world are mostly male.

As a concerned STEM professional and mother of a young daughter, I went digging for details earlier this year and captured what I learned in an infographic - Women in Technology - The Pipeline Challenge.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are two equalizers in life - the Internet and education

John Chambers, Cisco CEO

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

There are three main choke points where STEMulation is being impacted for:

• (1) School Girls
• (2) College Women
• (3) Professional Women

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The Pipeline Challenge

• (1) School Girls - Research shows that School Girls often pick up negative queues from their mothers about STEM topics - especially math - as early as four years old. They then enter school where a lack of confidence begins to get reinforced as teachers call on boys more often than girls. Some teachers may also express their own weakness about STEM topics - especially math. It's usually around puberty when girls turn off to the idea of becoming a technology nerd or geek due to peer pressure.

• (2) College Women - College Women often come to campus with built-in baggage from early childhood, schools, and social environments. By the time they choose a major, less than 5% show an early interest in STEM programs. The others may have sworn off those programs as too hard or too nerdy. They may have also observed their mothers' career choices and results. Though over 50% of all college graduates are female, fewer than 25% of STEM degrees will be awarded to College Women.

• (3) Professional Women - Professional Women are faced with yet another layer of challenges as they step into the workforce. While women deliver a majority of the working hours, they hold onto a small percentage of senior leadership roles. The STEM pipeline challenge is even more dire as the number of female leadership candidates in STEM companies is miniscule. One female entrepreneur cited that the journey to the C-Suite can take 30 years! Many ambitious, brilliant Professional Women in STEM fields will retire or leave long before the traditional C-Suite becomes a "possibility" for them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Let's talk about solutions...

There are so many more insights to share and you're probably thinking - what can I do to help? Here's what you can do right now with very little effort:

• (1) School Girls - If you have doubts about your strength in science, technology, engineering, or math - DO NOT share those feelings with School Girls! Whether you're the parent or not, know that they are listening!!! Let them know that anything is possible if they put their minds to it. Also help to connect them with strong 'Near Peers' who can provide positive STEMulation.

• (2) College Women - Encourage College Women to find and participate in STEMulating activities around campus. These activities may include something as simple as helping to set up STEM exhibits or connecting with campus 'nerds' during open events. Push them outside of their comfort zones (whatever they may be!) and help them to build new interests in STEM. Show them how by doing it yourself. Emphasize that 'nerds' rule the world!

• (3) Professional Women - Standard advice is to team up with professional mentors or sponsors. This is sound advice and always will be. Add in a Life Coach as well. Determine what you need to get from the relationships and evaluate what you're willing to give before you begin the screening process. Remember that it's not all about you! Mentors, sponsors, and coaches may need reciprocal support as well. Also, find ways to share or incorporate your skills into multi-disciplinary STEMulating activities in professional associations and community organizations.

 

Projections from U.S. Department of Education

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEM Resources

 

STEM professionals and parents with daughters have an important role to play and undoubtedly are hard at work on solutions. There are countless programs and support systems available. Yet it's difficult to know which ones hold the most promise. If you're stuck, here are three programs per category to get you STEMulated:

• (1) School Girls - i2Camp, Space Center Houston, Junior Achievement
• (2) College Women - T-STEM, STEM-ED, Best STEM Colleges for Women
• (3) Professional Women - STEMConnector, WIT, NAPW

While every woman and girl (man or boy) will not develop an interest in pursuing a STEM degree, there is a great need for everyone to understand the impact of STEM on their lives and livelihoods - and how their contributions fit into the STEM landscape...

 

So let's get STEMulated!

What do you think can or should be done about Women in Technology - The Pipeline Challenge?

A Day Long and Less Than a Dollar Short

Yes - it's true. A dollar is a dollar!

The issues around pay equity are complex for sure, but it's clear that our economy suffers greatly as a result of the pay gap between women and men. Most of us don't grow up thinking that we want women to earn less than men for equal work - or that we want the actual work performed by women to be devalued in aggregate tracking. Many of us probably don't even think about it perhaps assuming that it's just so wrong that it doesn't make sense to consider it. Yet it's happening. Women end up at less than a dollar short for long days at work - and at home.

On average women spend ~1800 hours per year working a paid job where the average pay is less than men's. Once the work day is over, women also carry the load for their families at home. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women devote more than 110 million hours a year to unpaid interactive child care - more than double the amount of time spent by men in these same areas. The effort at home doesn't yet factor into economic evaluations, but shouldn't it?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If women received pay equal to their male counterparts, the U.S. economy would produce $447.6 billion in additional income

The Shriver Report (2014)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Beyond the Working Years

The economic impact of unequal pay cascades throughout a woman's lifecycle and causes challenges well beyond the working years. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), women live long and prosper with an average age of 81.1 years compared to men's 76.3 years yet the adverse impact of pay inequality carried forward is doubled for women.

The Social Security Administration shows more optimistic longevity data noting that:

• Women who reach 65 today can expect to live until 86 on average
• Men who reach 65 today can expect to live until 84 on average
• For 65-year-olds today - ~25% of will live past age 90; ~10% will live past age 95

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The median income for women over 65 was approximately 25 percent lower than men’s over the last decade, with a poverty rate for women at 2X higher than men's in 2010

United States Government Accountability Office (2012)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Avoid Poverty Now - and Later

What if pay equity wasn't an issue? Data from the Institute for Women's Policy Research shows a dramatic decrease in poverty if pay was equalized based on:

• same number of hours worked
• same age
• same educational attainment
• same urban/rural status
• same region of the country

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The poverty rate would decrease by 50% if women earned the same as men!

The Institute for Women's Policy Research (2014)



 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moving Forward

With laws in place to ensure equal pay for equal work and increasing awareness of the challenges caused by the status quo, barriers to pay equity will begin to fall away as more people take an active role in changing the future. To move forward we must continue to:

• Increase Awareness - seek first to understand and then to change what doesn't work. Don't assume that everyone is aware of the details around pay equity. Leverage your knowledge and applicable laws as necessary.
• Equal Pay Act of 1963
• Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009
• The Paycheck Fairness Act (Pending)

• Speak Up - secrecy leads to the persistence of stubborn pay gaps due to lack of visibility. Dig in and understand fair market rates by role, gender, education, location, experience, skills, effort, and responsibility (i.e. know what's fair based on your value proposition?)

• Challenge Perceptions - a dollar is a dollar and it should be viewed as such. Once you know your market value, prepare to negotiate for top dollar and be creative when promoting your capabilities.

• Hold Employers Accountable - don't be afraid to challenge employers when discrepancies are found. That's what the laws are for! Concerns have been expressed that additional legislation in this area will tie up the courts with frivolous law suits. Rubbish! If pay is going wrong, then use all available avenues to help make it right!

• Redefine the Value of Work - All of It! - people are the core infrastructure of the economy thus work 'with' people (i.e. families) should be included in economic evaluations.

Our future is in our hands - so let's take care of us!

Curiosity Is The Spark

Curiosity. That's what sparked it.

Way back in my early years I recall my father tinkering with electronic gadgets or anything else that stimulated his imagination for hours on end. Whenever he wasn't working or at church, he would come home rest, eat, take care of any family issues, and tinker. He must have had every version of 8-track players in existence. Most of the time he was borrowing parts from one gadget to make another gadget work. He invented things - lots of things. He once made a pair of electric gloves to keep his hands warm during the winter only to find out that the gloves were too clunky to be useful. He was undeterred by the 'f' word (failure) or by naysayers . "Can't" wasn't part of his vocabulary. He just kept on creating - and creating. He was curious and creative.

My mother was also curious and creative. Unfortunately she passed on when I was just 3 years old. To the amazement of my father and my siblings, I remember her vividly. Over the years I learned more about her from my family and from many others who knew and loved her. She was focused on faith, family, and education - demanding that every one of her children receive a solid education - girls and boys alike. She kept the family clothed and fed with the money that my father brought in. Those were simpler times - I suppose - when women were primarily homemakers and men were breadwinners (it wasn't that long ago!). She stretched pennies to make dollars. It's possible, but I'm not sure how she did it - keeping our family going while also making room to help others as well.

My parents together created a large family of creative individuals with me at the end of the line - the youngest of 16 siblings (13 girls and 3 boys). As the youngest, I had the greatest advantage of watching with wide-eyed curiosity as my siblings grew up and went away to build lives of their own. I saw what worked and what didn't. Somehow I knew that I was destined to be fiercely independent and innovative, but I wasn't clear where this realization would lead me. My DNA - literally - drives me to be creative, compassionate, innovative, and fiercely independent. Curiosity is the spark. I'm curious about everything. I ask the next question. I ask the question before the question. I ask the question after that question. I imagine possibilities and link ideas that don't seem to be related.

Curiously, my career and my life are the alignment of my parents' natures. My curiosity makes me pull things apart to see how they work so that something better can be created and my compassion makes me care deeply about the impact of technology innovations on people's lives. I've studied and worked on both sides of the chasm as an Electrical Engineer supporting the creation of faster, better, more amazing technologies - and as an Industrial and Organizational Psychology Practitioner evaluating the future of work and the kinds of roles that will drive prosperity and well-being in the knowledge economy.

Going forward my contributions will focus on building bridges between these two areas in order to tackle significant challenges for:

• Women in Technology
• Women in Leadership

I've been very fortunate in my career. It's not easy to advance and no one says that it should be. However, gender inequality will choke the life out of our economy if we don't set about resolving the issues systematically - and fast. Without knowing any more, consider the implications if ~50% of the population is not leveraged at it's peak potential while simultaneously being impacted by the explosion of new technologies and global dynamics. What does this mean for us collectively in 5 years, 10 years, +? What can be done about it? How long do we have to make a difference? I'm curious - and nervous - not for me as much as for my daughter and for the next generation of women and girls.

The cure for curiosity is mediocrity - keeping things as they are or allowing them to deteriorate. I don't care much for the curiosity cure, but I do care to push the boundaries in education and in the workplace. I'll continue creating and innovating in these areas until I can no longer do so. Our DNA makes it possible - and somehow necessary - to build faster, better, more amazing technologies. We can also exercise compassion in the process. Curiosity is the spark. Taking action is the next step.

I'm curious - what actions will you take and how can I help?

If You Have a Weak Stomach or Fear of Future, Then Don't Read This!

WARNING! If you have a weak stomach or a fear of the future, then don't read this! However, if you want to explore where our collective intelligence has taken us, then grab a beverage or your favorite snack and indulge.

I'm deeply passionate about the integration of technology and humanity. I'm also deeply concerned about the impact of technology on jobs and livelihoods near term and beyond. Everyday I make an effort to research and share at least one tidbit of compelling information with my readers in these areas.  Inevitably I find something new - new to me, newly created, new perspectives on something old - or something just plain crazy. That's what the documentary below is to me - new, compelling, crazy, and wow (aka scary)!

We're pushing boundaries at unprecedented rates and our awareness hasn't yet caught up to what we're collectively capable of. It's fascinating and at times simply unbelievable. I stumbled on this documentary while exploring STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs across the U.S. The focus of my research is to determine effective ways to break down barriers in STEM for women and girls - and to find out how I can help.

The U.S. is not ready and the alternatives are deeply troubling.

• 69% of high school graduates are not prepared for college-level science
• 54% of high school graduates are not prepared for college-level math
• 4% of bachelor's degrees awarded in the U.S. are in engineering, China 31%
• 40% of men with STEM degrees practice in their field compared to 26% of women 
• 92% of all U.S. STEM jobs will require post-secondary education by 2018
• 23% of STEM workers are women though women are 48% of the workforce
• 4% of workers in STEM careers create jobs for the 96% of workers in other fields
• 30% of middle school science teachers did not major in science and are not certified to teach it

Don't look away! If you don't like the view, explore what you can do as a professional in your field to help change it. After all - it's our collective futures on the line.

Are Women the Real Power Behind Social Media Platforms?

Social media platforms are a tremendous phenomenon that even passionate technocrats like myself didn't envision when I entered the tech arena many years ago (I won't say how many years ago). Before I went into the military or went to college I was absolutely smitten by the possibilities that would some day come from the work that I would perform as an Electrical Engineer.

After graduating I relished in the challenges that came my way and immersed myself in the work of testing the earliest versions of ferro-electric thin-film capacitors and wireless data technologies. Wow! - I'm still amazed. I spent countless hours evaluating system designs, testing product releases, building and selling technology solutions, and creating an ever expanding awareness of the economics of leadership and human capital along the way - always digging deeper to create better, stronger, faster, more efficient systems and solutions for the companies where I worked for and more broadly for humanity in general. I still believe in the whole good of technology and what it does for us.

With all of my passion for technology and the good that it does, I'm deeply bothered by the gender gap and its impact over time - even more so after Oxford's research study. Much research has been done and initiatives have re-started to turn up the volume on this topic. I'm still perplexed about the 'how' and 'why' of the gender gap and of course I continue to examine ways that I can use my talents and capabilities to help close the gap just a little more. The urgency is real!

Social media platforms provide us with ways to connect, interact, and innovate at the speed of light. All one needs is an idea and a computer and the world is literally at your fingertips. Technology, education, and barriers to entry have virtually disappeared and market disruptions are everywhere as a result. The great equalizers - internet and education - are free making it possible for the entire globe to participate in reshaping our world. Yet the economic distance between men and women remains galaxies apart.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are two equalizers in life - the internet and education

John Chambers

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cisco

World Economic Forum (2014)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Social Media Platforms - Owners versus Users

Mashable's article reviewing the Top 10 Highest Rated Tech CEOs prompted me to think about who "owns" social media platforms versus who "uses" these platforms - and whether there is a way to leverage these platforms to dramatically change gender dynamics. To ask the question a different way - can women leverage time spent on social media platforms to help secure stronger leadership roles in companies or as influencers of policies that will drive the desired changes in leadership? There are may ways to answer this question, but the simplest answer is 'yes'. Alone social media platforms aren't the only answer and it would be silly to think so. There also must be 'push', policies, programs, and participation from the target audience - women - to change the trajectory.

 

Will Social Media Become Girl Territory Soon?

That's the question at the bottom of the infographic. If women use social media platforms to build and launch personal brands, to run their own businesses, and to add massive value beyond shares, likes, and comments - then yes - social media will soon become girl territory. If not, then social media will continue to provide even greater ownership and leadership opportunities for platform founders, leaders, and businesses without maximizing the opportunities at women's fingertips.

"Bossy" Is Only One Leadership Indicator

The "Ban Bossy - Encourage Girls to Lead" campaign is a super step forward for women and girls around the globe.  I'm excited (almost giddy) to see this level of engagement and visibility on the topic of girls and leadership - especially in partnership with Girl Scouts. I have a Girl Scout and she's the apple of my eye so I pay close attention to the messages that she's given about virtually everything - even from me. Okay I admit it - I'm an overprotective parent. Sue me! ;-)

We know that what we say is often interpreted differently by children than as intended so let's take "ban bossy" for a spin. If I'm a "bossy" girl, this statement tells me that I'm great and I have what it takes to lead. If I'm not "bossy", what message do I receive? Does it mean that I'm not a leader? After reviewing the site with my daughter and listening to her questions, it became clear to me that the message has to be expanded in order to be positively received by all girls. It's not just the "bossy" girls who have what it takes to lead.

The confidence gap starts early. Between elementary and high school, girls' self-esteem drops 3.5 times more than boys'

Bossy holds girls back. Girls are twice as likely as boys to worry that leadership roles will make them seem “bossy.”

Girls get less air time in classrooms. They are called on less and interrupted more.



http://www.banbossy.org

 

Alternative to "Bossy"

My daughter is a kind-hearted peacemaker. She was awarded her school's first Peacemaker's Award in 2012 for her brilliance in negotiating solutions between her classmates.  She abhors conflict and making peace is a natural part of her personality. She's not "bossy" yet she is a leader. I tell her often that she'll win the Nobel Peace Prize someday. She smiles and takes it in...

I absolutely agree that girls must be encouraged to lead and I wouldn't have it any other way. However, I think it's important to ensure that girls are also shown different types of leadership models so that they don't flip the script and turn this positive campaign into a negative reflection of themselves.

Take the pledge to "ban bossy" but don't stop there!

Technology's Devastating Impact on Women's Jobs

March 8th, tomorrow, is International Women's Day - a day for celebration of women's accomplishments.  The official UN theme for this year is "Equality for Women is Progress for All".

Before diving into the details about the pending challenges regarding women's jobs, take a look at the International Women's Day Doodle video for this year. Celebrate and acknowledge outstanding women. Ah hem - that would be ALL women.

Technology's Devastating Impact on Women's Jobs

 
Topics like are never pleasant to examine, but looking away from them won't change reality. Awareness is the first step towards change, right? Since the changes and challenges are already in progress, it's time to determine next steps.

As I reviewed the recent Oxford study which concludes that 47 percent of US jobs may become computerized in 10 or 20 years, I wondered about impacted demographics like as gender, age, and race - with a sharp focus on women. A close look at data tracked by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2010 (the same year used in the study) shows how devastating the reality may be for women if a fundamental shift in skills doesn't occur.

According to our estimate, 47 percent of the total US employment is in the high risk category, meaning that associated occupations are potentially automatable some unspecified number of years, perhaps a decade or two.

The Future of Employment: How Susceptible are Jobs to Computerization?

 C. Frey, M. Osborne; Oxford University (September 2013

Why my focus on women in particular? Well - because women's productivity is the backbone of the global workforce - clocking 66% of all working hours on the planet. Simply put women's productivity drives global economies.

Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, and produce 50 percent of the food, yet earn only 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property. Whether the issue is improving education in the developing world, or fighting global climate change, or addressing nearly any other challenge we face, empowering women is a critical part of the equation.

Former President Bill Clinton 

Clinton Global Initiative (September 2009)

...The challenges to gender equality just got a whole lot more complicated.


Disruptive Technologies Are Disrupting Women's Jobs

Disruptive technologies will impact the most susceptible occupations in services, sales, administration, construction, and transportation. Most of these jobs are currently performed by women.

• Services jobs are being replaced by personal and household robots at a pace of 15% to 20% per year.
• Sales and related administration jobs are rapidly succumbing to automation and software advancements.
• Industrial robots may automate 15% to 25% of tasks associated with jobs in construction, maintenance, and manufacturing by 2025.

And on the story goes...


A straight-across look at the percentages by gender and job category show significant challenges for women who hold a majority of roles in sales, office, and services occupations. As if the flags weren't red enough in general, they are particularly red for women.

 

SALES-OFC - Sales and office occupations

SVCS - Services occupations

MGMT-PROF - Management, Professional, Related occupations

PROD-TX-MAT - Production, Transportation, Material Moving occupations

NR-CONST-MNT - Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance occupations

Now what? It's time to retool for the knowledge economy.