by Carolyn Leighton-Tal (carolyn@witi.com)
Founder and Chairwoman
WITI
Since it was a U.S. News & World Report cover story about the gender gap in corporate America that served as the catalyst for starting WITI, bridging the gender gap has always been a major objective for WITI.
One of the statistics that struck a chord in the article was that women had made a mere 3% gain over the previous 10 year period in mid-management.
In the thousands of WITI women I have met, I have yet to meet one who does not share my passion and yearning for gender-aware work environments designed to allow each of us to contribute our greatest gifts.
Why is it, then, that the majority of academic institutions and corporate environments which proudly work towards the highest standards in so many arenas continue to have anachronistic environments not committed to enabling all differences to thrive and succeed?
When academic institutions teach the principles that make companies thrive and succeed, are gender and diversity issues even discussed?
Corporate leaders understand that high percentages of women are leaving corporate America because they see very little chance of real opportunity for them once they reach mid-management. Why are so few making a real commitment to making the changes necessary to make corporate environments places where women feel they can succeed?
One big recent disappointment was when a woman, recently selected as CEO of a public high-tech company, quickly earned the reputation for not wanting to deal with gender issues at all a "lost opportunity" for leadership and breaking new ground. Or, in another well known case, when a woman CEO adopts the style of the most ferocious man we ever met!
WITI's new Bridging the Gender Gap program is an example of leaders embracing the opportunity to utilize their leadership to bring attention to gender effectiveness issues.
WITI Advisory Board members Wim Roelands, CEO of Xilinx and Susan Larson, executive vice president of Dell, have invested considerable time working together to design the program. WITI will offer it to its corporate partners who understand the value of redesigning their environments to more effectively retain, develop and attract women.
WITI also has the privilege of partnering with Helen Turnbull, president of Human Facets, and one of the world's foremost consultants in diversity, to develop the first gender gap software tool. It is designed to enable organizations to develop effective metrics, organizational accountability and benchmark progress to start addressing more effectively attraction and retention issues.
In a world where women are classified as property in many countries, each one of us must stand committed to educate and change the thinking of those who continue to perpetuate barriers for women. Every day brings new opportunity for to advance another woman.
"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history." Sonia Johnson, author, lecturer
