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Cori’s Career Corner

Happy holidays! I look forward to the season, and to all the promise of a new year. January will find me at the 2008 annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges and Universities. I’ll be speaking on a panel, “Redefining Paradigms of Success,” that will look at women's career paths and how they vary from men’s. I have quite a bit to say on the topic, but what I’d also like to share are your personal stories. I’m looking for stories of how Mount Holyoke alumnae are handling career, home, and family—the complex balancing act that defines so many women’s lives today. Got a story to share? I’d love to hear it! Please e-mail me cashwort@mtholyoke.edu anytime between now and January 5.

Here’s another question for you: are you familiar with Catalyst? It’s a nonprofit corporate membership research and advisory organization working globally with businesses and the professions to expand opportunities for women in business. I recently found two particularly interesting articles on the Catalyst Web site http://www.catalyst.org/ that gave me new insights on women and business. In one, a study sponsored by the Chubb Corporation, released in October, reports that Fortune 500 companies with more women serving on the board of directors experience higher financial performance than those companies with the lowest board representation of women.

The study looked at three variables: return on equity, return on sales, and return on invested capital. Based on this formula, the researchers discovered a correlation between gender diversity and improved financial performance—which will come as no surprise to MHC women.

Another recent study conducted by IBM focused on gender stereotyping and double-bind dilemmas for women. According to the study, “gender stereotypes lead organizations to routinely underestimate and underutilize women’s leadership talent.” Three areas were highlighted: “extreme” perceptions (women leaders are seen as either “too soft” to wield authority or “too tough” for comfort); a competence threshold that is higher for women than for men; and a general dislike of women displaying the same leadership qualities that are valued in men. Awareness, additional training, and careful scrutiny by management were recommended as means to address these situations. Catalyst believes, and I agree, that organizations need to develop and promote change to rid the work environment of the damaging impact of gender stereotyping and take advantage of the expanding pool of female leadership talent.

I am here to help, if, upon reflection, you want to start on a new career path this coming year. In January, I will begin a mini series of classes on job search strategy, marketing yourself, and behavioral interviewing, among other topics. The classes will meet on the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 1 pm (January 9, February 13, and March 12). Classes will be conducted by teleconference, and include a presentation and discussion of the material. Please e-mail cashwort@mtholyoke.edu me to enroll.

I wish you all the best during this wonderful and crazy holiday season!