A Few Good Women: Breaking the Barriers to Top Management

Front Cover
Prentice Hall, 1992 - Business & Economics - 229 pages
Ever wonder why despite the record-breaking number of women entering the workforce, there are to date only 3 female CEOs of Fortune 1000 companies? Or why only one half of one percent of today's highest paid officers of top public companies are women? Turn here for lessons from the trenches; see how 12 female executives have successfully climbed the corporate ladder and shattered "the glass ceiling" to ascend into the ranks of upper management. A compelling "tell-it-like-it-is" mosaic of how today's most powerful women cope in no-woman's-land, A FEW GOOD WOMEN gives you a first-hand look at what it takes to overcome our most enduring gender-based obstacles. For instance, you'll discover interviews exploring: how Shirley Prutch of Martin Marietta had to resign and be invited back to win the respect and the position she deserved; how Nancy Faunce of Eastman Kodak took a chance by going over her boss' head, instantly commanding the respect of the company's upper echelon; how Levi Strauss & Co.'s Loraine Binion effectively dealt with the double disadvantage of sexism and racism on her way to the top; how Sara Westendorf, laboratory manager at Hewlett-Packard, used a keen sense of humor - along with a healthy dose of the same medicine her male colleagues would routinely administer - to gain entry into the all-guy "clubhouse"; how Linda Wroblewski of Richard A. Eisner & Co. used the open, direct approach to climb into partnership of her regional accounting firm; and how Melissa Cadet turned repeated exposures to the old-boy network into a vice presidency at River West Developments where she is responsible for capital budgeting and forecasting for land developments worth over $100 million.What's more, A FEW GOOD WOMEN shows forward-looking women how to re-think - and retire once and for all - 10 common myths to which corporate America unfortunately subscribes, including: the myth of the ever-present working mom guilt... the myth of high ranking "female-friendly" companies... the myth that time alone will bring male/female parity to the workplace... and more. You'll also see how these women fought back when sexist policies reared their head, including fascinating accounts of how these savvy women have: filed and won discrimination lawsuits... taken fast advantage of new legislation... wisely determined whether or not to continue employment with their offending company... and more. "Must" reading for any woman wishing to soar to new heights of professional success - and for any man who works with, or for, the opposite sex - this landmark book is an eye-opening, on-the-job survival guide for our time.

From inside the book

Contents

Women on the Corporate Ladder
15
Why So Few Good Women?
31
The View From 11 Women Near the Top
37
Copyright

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