Women in Leadership

Here are some facts about women in corporations:
  • Women comprise 46% of the workforce
  • 86% of the Fortune 500 companies have at least one woman board member
  • 11.2% of corporate officers are women
  • There are 2 women CEOs in the Fortune 500
  • 83 women, compared to 2,184 men hold the esteemed titles of chairman, CEO, president, senior vice presdient or executive president.

Source: Catalyst research published in the SJ Mercury News 6/19/2000

Although those numbers may have changed slightly since 2000, there is still truth in the observation that:

For Women in corporations, it can be extremely lonely “at the top.”

As a corporate coach & consultant for over 35 years, I have worked with senior women at the VP and Director levels who are often the only woman on the senior staff. They report everything from having their ideas repeatedly “stolen” to feeling like an “outsider”. They each, at some point, began to question their contributions/value since they were not getting the attention they thought their ideas deserved. Women at the senior level are essential. They need support in bringing the perspective only they can bring to the executive table. Although they excel at leadership within their departments, it may be an entirely different story at executive staff meetings.

Working with a coach, a senior woman can:

  • clarify her leadership message and presence
  • increase her influence with the executive staff
  • build strong peer relationships
  • prioritize the key issues that need her attention
  • maintain balance between the demands of her corporate and personal life
  • be supported when so many are depending on her to support them

More information can be found in our Services page.