Executive Women's Networking Blog

A Conversation with Christine McMahon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fedcap Rehabilitation Services, Inc.

Wendy Marcari — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:17:00 -0500

Christine McMahon joined Fedcap in 2009 and has championed the organization’s strategic growth, significantly increasing the nonprofit’s size as well as its service delivery and reach among people in need throughout the Northeast.

Ms. McMahon has more than 25 years’ experience in social and mental-health services in New York and New England. She is nationally recognized for the breadth of her strategic vision and her expertise across a wide range of social programs, for the implementation of numerous social-service-delivery and community-based initiatives, and for influencing state and local healthcare and social policy. She previously served as Senior Vice President and COO of an Easter Seals region that encompassed New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts.

Fedcap is a nonprofit organization. What is its mission and what is your mission for Fedcap?

Fedcap’s mission is to create opportunities for people with barriers to move toward economic independence. We provide evaluation, education, vocational and soft-skills training, job placement and post-employment support to thousands of adults and young people in the Northeast each year. We place people in jobs across a wide variety of business sectors and employ 1,500 in our own $90M managed-services operations. We also know that, for many, a job on its own – even a sustainable job that pays a living wage – is not enough to overcome the many complex barriers to long-term economic independence for many of those we serve. For example, people with mental illness or substance-abuse problems, people who are poor and uneducated, even veterans coming back from Afghanistan may face even basic life challenges that, when left unsolved, undermine success. So, in addition to helping people into jobs, we strive to understand and address the services they need to maintain those jobs. Fedcap is all about relevant and sustainable impact.

Do you think that being a woman has impacted your success positively or negatively?

I’m grateful to all those brave people who fought for women’s rights, but we’re still a long way away from a gender neutral playing field. I like to understand when gender differences exist, figure out how to embrace or overcome those differences, and then leverage the situation to succeed.

How would you describe your management style?

I am collaborative but I'm also decisive and I don't beat around the bush. And I like consensus, although I do sometimes think it’s overrated. I’d prefer to have the right answer than to have everyone agree on the wrong one. Perhaps the best way to describe the style that I aspire to is that I try to lead people to think differently about the issues that confront us, to shift the conversation, to explore alternative pathways to achieve our goals. I am decisive but I believe that the best decisions are made when we truly understand the problem that we're trying to solve. A leader's job is to ask the questions that get us to that holistic understanding, and then to facilitate the thinking and discussion necessary to reach solutions that are grounded in and responsive to that problem. And then of course a leader needs to be able to mobilize people and to find resources to get the job done.

When you’re working- how do you stay connected to leaders and your local business community?

I like best to work in groups and to rally people around a problem. As a not-for-profit organization, we have an obligation to solve problems. I am fond of inviting representatives from our biggest competitors to an all-day planning session. We can compete and work together in the community without anyone having to compromise. In fact, I believe that this sort of approach benefits everyone much more so than when we remain in our individual silos. But the sort of collaboration and even partnership that I'm talking about takes work and time. Effective alliances require knowledge of the other, understanding of priorities, goals and challenges, and ultimately depend on trust and mutual respect.

What professional advice would you offer that has served you well?

Mistakes happen. Focus on the recovery and find strength in learning from your mistakes. Another piece of advice that I love to share came from a fortune cookie. Seriously. It is: Efficient people get the job done right. Effective people get the right job done.

Name one common mistake you see women make in their careers.

Too many women minimize their accomplishments and don’t take credit they deserve. Men are better able to be competitive and to talk about their accomplishments in proactive, definitive terms. Women are much more likely to talk as “we.”

As the CEO of a company, do you consider diversity when selecting outside advisors, such as legal counsel or financial professionals?

There is intrinsic value in diversity--bringing together professionals with different cultural experiences and perspectives can contribute to the dynamic exchange of ideas to promote innovation and growth. It is also critical to match the right person with the right skill set with the right job. Both are achievable in today's business environment.

Describe your views on philanthropy.

Philanthropy is vital to solving communities’ problems and can be more effective than a government framework. When people make personal contributions to the community, they get more directly engaged in the outcome than when they’re just paying taxes. At the same time, we shouldn’t have to constantly make the moral case for sustainable government funding for things like education.

What can companies and professional women do to give back to their communities?

We put too much pressure on companies to fix problems in this country. We want businesses to hire veterans yet we don’t help them learn how to effectively translate military mindsets and skills to the civilian workplace. We tell businesses they must hire the previously incarcerated but we hold those businesses responsible should anything go wrong with an employee. That said, companies should become actively engaged--even insert themselves--into education to introduce young people (especially young women) to career possibilities. There are too many kids in economically deprived areas who can’t even name five careers, let alone aspire to them.

Increased Care for Caregivers by Government Enforcement Agency

Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:32:10 -0500

By: Lauri F. Rasnick and Meg Thering

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has once again turned its focus to caregiver discrimination. While “caregivers” are not specifically included as a “protected category” under any federal law, the EEOC has discussed various federal laws that may provide protections to caregivers. Read more about the EEOC’s focus on caregiver discrimination here.

"Strong, Smart, Bold" and Inspiring Women

Frances Green — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:56:05 -0500

In this Women's Month in particular, EBG's Women's Initiative would like to send congratulations and kudos to Julie Greiner of Macy's and Girls Inc. NYC! Julie, Executive Officer and Chief Merchandise Planner at Macy's, Inc. is being honored, along with Mary Bryon of Goldman Sachs and Regina Lee of ADP, for her work and support of Girls Inc. A luncheon will be held today in NYC for these honorees! Congratulations to Girls Inc. NYC for more than 28 years of championing and inspiring girls and young women "to be strong, smart and bold"!!

Joan Disler, Member of EBG, Quoted in an Article Discussing Ideas Academia Can Borrow from Corporations On Policies that Foster Opportunities For Working Mothers

Joan Disler — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 16:40:46 -0500

Please click here to view an article discussing the notion that academia could borrow ideas from the corporate world regarding flexible policies for working mothers. Joan Disler is quoted in the article in the following excerpt:

Joan Disler, an equity partner with law firm Epstein Becker & Green, P.C., is an example of someone in a similarly intensive profession who was able to arrange time to raise her small children while continuing to pursue a high-ranking position in her field. She said it was when the first of her two sons was 9 years old that she decided to spend more time at home raising her children.

When she was aspiring to make partner, Disler said she had hoped the firm where she worked at the time would allow her to reduce her hours in the office — with the thought that she would be able to return and pick up where she left off. The firm obliged.

“I have to tell you that during those years that made all the difference to me,” Disler said. “When I felt that I no longer wanted to reduce my hours, the firm helped me [get back on track].”

Disler said Epstein Becker & Green has a Women’s Initiative group designed to provide its female employees with networking resources and similar benefits. These resources are available to all women at the firm but can be especially valuable to those just returning from a maternity leave and looking to get back on track, Disler said.

Working Out and Working the Room - Exercise and Networking

Margaret C. Thering — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:43:36 -0500

We hope you enjoyed our interview with Betty Francisco, Executive Vice President of Millennium Partners Sports Club Management. In the interview, Francisco wisely advocates that women should make time for working out. She also advocates having an extensive professional and personal network. She is definitely right on both counts. Admittedly, many executive and working women have difficulty balancing work, professional networking, an active social life, and fitness. As a busy attorney at Epstein, Becker, & Green, P.C., fitness and health, which are so integral to a happy existence at both home and work can often times get placed on the bottom of the "to do" list. I have found that by cultivating certain aspects of my life (e.g., professional networking and fitness or personal socializing and fitness), it is easier to maintain this juggle.

Figure skating is one of my personal passions and interests. To fill these personal goals, when I moved to New York last year, I joined an adult synchronized figure skating team. I did not join the team thinking about networking opportunities, but I am amazed by the accomplished, professional women on this team. There are many lawyers, a doctor, a scientist, an actuary, an engineer, an architect, a broadcast journalist, a fashion production company owner, and a jewelry designer, among others. I have also made new friends and contacts by playing dodgeball with ZogSports, a league that is essentially intramurals for adults (and that attracts a lot of young professionals), as well as through bowling with Better Off Bowling, a social bowling league that advertises itself as a league for young professionals. There are endless opportunities to meet other professionals through athletic events and team sports. I have friends who participate in the NYC Social Sports Club and New York Road Runners, among others. We might consider joining such teams for social, athletic, and professional benefits.

Additionally, we might consider turning one-on-one networking opportunities into fitness opportunities. Instead of meeting for drinks as your next networking event, why not meet for a spin or yoga class or a run in the park? Not only will you streamline your to-do list, but you will likely make your networking event more memorable. I cannot remember with specificity all of the networking happy hours I have attended, but I do remember the active networking events I have attended: a sword fighting class with a networking group; a boot camp class with a women’s networking group; a spin class with a mentor of mine; and a hike with former co-workers. These events were really fun and provided better bonding experiences than simple happy hours.

My firm’s Women’s Initiative also provides great opportunities for professional women to network. In a recent event, a group of EBG women attorneys “powered walked” and invited clients and guests to do the same in order to raise money and awareness for the non-profit organization, Dress For Success, which benefits young women aspiring to attain professional career goals.

Readers – Do you have any favorite fitness classes or activities that might make for successful professional networking opportunities? How do you balance working, fitness, professional networking, and your social life?

A Conversation with Betty Francisco, EVP and General Counsel of Millennium Partners Sports Club Management

Kara M. Maciel — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:26:06 -0500

Millennium Partners Sports Club Management operates The Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club/NY, premier fitness and sports clubs across the country, with locations in Boston; Washington, DC; Miami; New York; and San Francisco

What sparked your interest in law?

I initially became interested in immigration law in college while doing my thesis on immigration policy. After graduating from college, I wanted to work in the legal field for a few years before attending law school in order to understand what exactly lawyers do. So, I worked as a paralegal at the District Attorney's office in New York for three years. I admired what the Assistant District Attorneys did in the criminal law environment and decided to pursue law school at Northeastern University for a joint JD/MBA.

What made you decide to get a joint JD/MBA?

A professor of mine in college was adamant that, in order for women or Hispanics to advance faster, it would be better for them to go into business, rather than law. That stuck with me as I made the ambitious decision to get a dual degree; in hindsight, it was one of the best decisions that I made in my career.

Is that what drew you to business law?

Yes, absolutely. My goal was to practice law for a few years and then to transition to the business side. I did my “coops” or internships with law firms and companies during law school. After graduation, I joined Palmer & Dodge (now Edwards Wildman Palmer) in Boston as a corporate attorney. When I entered private practice in 1998, it was the height of the dot-com boom and a fantastic time to gain substantive experience in corporate transactions with technology businesses. I worked with a number of private and public companies with excellent exposure to clients and deals. Then, I began to focus my practice on venture capital and M&A transactions.

What led you to join Sports Club/LA as General Counsel?

By my eighth year of practicing law, I was trying to decide what direction I wanted to take with the rest of my career. I was resolved to pursue partnership at the firm. But, as fate would have it, the opportunity presented itself to join The Sports Club/LA as General Counsel, and I could not pass it up. My first child was nine months old at the time, and The Sports Club/LA was a place where I had always found refuge. I joined as a club member in 2002 and worked out at the club at nights after a long day of work. I loved the brand and the environment, and when the opportunity opened to go in-house, I knew it would be a great place to grow my career.

Initially, I was hired as the company’s new General Counsel, overseeing the legal department for the newly acquired sports clubs. It had been envisioned to be a part-time, four-days-per-week job. However, once I started, we realized how much work was needed to develop and organize the legal department from the ground floor. There was a lot to accomplish as a result of the acquisition; the company was creating a new infrastructure for the clubs. Over time, I had a chance to get involved in the operational side of the business, which is something I did not do in private practice. The role of General Counsel had not been defined entirely, so it was a fantastic opportunity to jump right into the business, learn the different drivers, and contribute to strategic decisions. While my day-to-day job involves being the company’s legal advisor, I have also progressed into a senior management role. I now spend more time on activities that support our growth and on providing key business advice that will advance the company's overall objectives and strategy. It has been a wonderful progression from a purely legal role to a management and strategic role. That is really what makes my job fun, and, why, I think, so many lawyers leave private practice to go in-house.

Did having a young child play a role in that decision?

Yes and no. When I made the decision to go in-house, I knew that my firm was committed to helping me succeed as a partner and working mother. In fact, when I returned from maternity leave, I was approached by a longstanding female partner, who told me that she had heard great things about me and she wanted the firm to work with me to succeed. It was a proactive discussion and not one that I had to initiate. Additionally, it was important to me that someone would approach me and care about my professional success. The fact that the firm took a proactive role showed its commitment to female partners. However, the opportunity to join The Sports Club/LA and focus on health and wellness inside and outside the workplace appealed to me, especially having just had my first child.

What are some of the best pieces of professional advice you have received during your career?

I have received a number of different pieces of advice over the course of my career, and, certainly now, I understand much more of what people were trying to tell me. First, I believe in being passionate about your work and the impact it has on others; each day, I am inspired by how we improve the lives of our members and employees. Second, it’s important to not only build your network, but also develop strong relationships with that network. That requires a lot of time. My husband reminds me that I always need to be mindful of my personal "brand" and only commit to those causes and events that are I find most meaningful.

Do you have any advice on achieving work/life balance? How do you do it?

Balancing work and home is definitely a constant juggling act and a bit of a challenge for me. Since joining The Sports Club/LA, I had a second child and my children are growing up fast. The balancing act gets even more difficult as kids get older and are involved with school and activities. I have many outside activities in the evening, and I know my family wants to spend time with me. So we adjust our timing, but, most importantly, I have adjusted my feelings of guilt. At first, I felt very guilty about working and also spending so much time away from my family. Now, when I am at home, I make the most of it and try to disengage from work. There is definitely the instinct to check e-mails when I am home and to respond to issues immediately. But, just as focused as I am on work when I am at the office, I am focused on my family when I am at home. I have learned to adjust my expectations and to create a terrific network of support. It’s an ongoing challenge, but it’s all about adjusting schedules and making sure that when I am home, I dedicate my time to my kids and am not distracted by work or outside commitments.

The same principle applies to my fitness routine. Fitness and exercise are important to me; it takes work to incorporate them into my daily routine, but I make the time. I firmly believe that committing a half hour a few times a week to something that is important to you is critical to maintaining a successful balance and overall sanity – whether it is fitness, meeting with a friend, or just getting outside the office for lunch. A lot of women feel that they should be planted in their office in order to get their work done as soon as possible and then head home. That can lead to isolation and prevents you from getting outside and establishing a network. Sharing time with your coworkers, catching up with clients, mentoring younger professionals – each opportunity provides a new perspective every day.

How have you built your professional network?

Having an extensive professional and personal network is key for professional women. I am able to connect and work with people on a variety of issues, even if I am not personally benefiting from the network or connection. I also think that, in creating your network, you should focus on specific people with interests in which you are passionate about. It is less about creating a large group of people that you barely know, but rather developing individual relationships, which takes time. Doing something outside of work with your professional network helps you get to know others better. It’s all about fostering mutually beneficial relationships so that, one day, you can help each other.

For me, it is important to be active in my local community, so I have gotten involved in several organizations in the Boston area. Since I was young, I have wanted to be a role model for Latinos. Latino issues, such as education, are a passion of mine. More than five years ago, I was introduced to ALPFA, a national organization focused on building Latino business leaders. In 2008, ALPFA Boston launched a program that sought to bring lawyers into the organization as members in order to connect attorneys with the business community. In 2010, I took over the leadership of that program. More recently, I joined the Board of Directors for the YWCA in Boston. The YWCA allows me to focus on women’s issues, which is also a passion of mine. The organization provides a direct community impact on such issues as combating gender and racial discrimination.

How does fitness play a role in balancing work life – especially being the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of a premier fitness club?

Fitness is very important to me in a number of ways. I did not exercise much in college, but, after I graduated, my brother bought me a home version of the Reebok Step. I put the video on and found the exercise routine to be so much fun and so important to my overall well-being. Since then, fitness has been a regular part of my life.

But, in my job at The Sports Club/LA, it is even more important that I do things other than just incorporating fitness as a way to maintain my balance and sanity. First, it is key for me as a senior executive to know my company's products and brand. We call it "product knowledge," and I have to know what classes we offer, what products are available, and what is new and developing at the clubs. I don’t feel that I can successfully advise the company on business, legal, and strategic issues if I don't understand what our clubs, people, or members are doing. Second, it is important for me as the General Counsel to be visible in the clubs to our employees so that they know that senior leadership is committed to their workplace and available as a resource on any issue that may arise, whether it is a legal issue or not.

What is your favorite fitness class offered at the clubs?

I really enjoy the Definition classes, which are body-sculpting classes meant to improve muscular strength and endurance using free weights. Aspen Ascent is another new class that is extremely hot and popular right now. We partnered with Aspen/Snowmass, and the class is designed to prepare people for skiing and other winter sports. It’s a challenging workout for sure, and our classes are always full and always fun! I also do one-on-one personal training, which helps with building strength and keeps me motivated.

Only Four Women Featured in Fortune's "2011 Businessperson of the Year" List of 50

Wendy Marcari — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:47:46 -0500

Fortune Magazine came out with its issue naming the "2011 Businessperson of the Year," as well as 49 runners-up. As one would expect, the 50 individuals featured by Fortune are extraordinary leaders who have attained exceptional results for their respective businesses. What’s remarkable about this list, however, is that only four of the 50 businesspeople are women.

Women comprise almost half of the workforce, yet they account for only 6% of corporate CEOs and top executive positions, as noted in the January 2011 report by David A. Matsa and Amalia Miller entitled “Chipping Away at the Glass Ceiling: Gender Spillovers in Corporate Leadership.” At law firms, barely 15% of equity partners are women – a level that has not improved over many years, according to an October 2011 survey by The National Association of Women Lawyers and The NAWL Foundation. Although women have made much progress toward achieving equality in the workplace, we still have a long way to go. We would be wise to continue to focus our energy on identifying and addressing gender disparities at the highest levels of corporate America.

Congratulations to Irene B. Rosenfeld, Christine M. Day, Carol Meyrowitz, and Angela Ahrendts on their selection to Fortune’s list – and on the achievements for which they were selected.

Professional Women Too Stressed to Sleep

Wendy Marcari — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:23:16 -0500

I was not surprised to see an article in The New York Times regarding the prevalence of insomnia among working mothers.

Last week, I attended a dinner of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) General Counsel Institute. At the dinner table, I enjoyed interesting conversation with some accomplished women. We shared anecdotes of work, work-related travel, children, homework, and sleep – or, more accurately, our lack of sleep.

Women lawyers are often skilled multitaskers, driven to succeed at work and in their personal lives. Along with the responsibilities of the multiple roles of professional, spouse, and mother (and perhaps caregiver, volunteer, and friend, too), comes stress. Difficulty sleeping is a natural but unfortunate consequence of stress. According to a study cited in the article, 80 percent of women reported “being just too stressed or worried to turn out the proverbial lights.” The irresistible urge to check BlackBerry devices and iPhones before bedtime makes it even more difficult to wind down and fall asleep. (I’m certain that I am not the only one who pretends that I will rest better if I am sure that I have seen every email that may have arrived during the evening hours.) Waking at 3 or 4 a.m. with worries about the day ahead is also common.

Many women are resorting to prescription and over-the-counter treatments for their insomnia. “Nearly 3 in 10 American women fess up to using some kind of sleep aid at least a few nights a week,” The New York Times stated. Among 40 to 59 year olds, twice the number of women than men use prescription sleep aids.

Are professional women destined to a sleepless fate in this hyper-connected, 24/7 world? Are we sufficiently motivated to find solutions apart from pharmaceuticals or wine? The first step may be prioritizing our own well-being, and recognizing that we will be better able to respond to the stresses of the day if we get a good night’s sleep.

The Importance of Storytelling

Frances Green — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:41:14 -0500

Storytelling. It is an important component of a successful professional woman's life – in the boardroom, courtroom, or classroom, in theater and the arts, in research labs, and in any place we find ourselves imparting information. Recognizing the impact and art of articulating a cogent, comprehensive, and powerful presentation in any of these forums,the Epstein Becker Green Women's Initiative (WI) recently hosted 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning author Amy Nutt to share with us some insights from her own successful career as a journalist on enhancing our natural ability as women to weave a set of facts into a compelling narrative. (For more information about the WI event and Ms. Nutt’s book, Shadows Bright as Glass, click here.)

For some among us, storytelling may take the form of a personal journey whose iteration is borne out of adversity and challenge. Ingez Rameau, who works in Epstein Becker Green's Los Angeles office, is one such example. Ingez, an accomplished storyteller/actor, will be performing a very personal story of her poignant journey of love and healing during her incarceration as a child in a post-World War II camp for displaced persons. Her one-woman play, BURN, having opened in Hollywood, is headed for New York City for one night only – November 10, 2011, at 9:00 p.m. in the United Solo Theatre Festival at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street. (Reviews of the play at are available at The Tolucan Times website and Broadwayworld.com.) If you plan to be in Manhattan on November 10, I hope you will treat yourself to this inspirational theatrical event.

The Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation

Frances Green — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:06:22 -0500

To the readers of our blog who may be in health care and its related fields and industry, we wanted to introduce you all to the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation ("WBL"). This nonprofit's outreach and misson is to help senior executive women in the health care industry improve their businesses and continue to grow professionally. Our law partner Lynn Shapiro Synder is the founder of the WBL. Check out the website, and to those of us in the business of health care, the WBL might be an organization for you!

A "Night Of Giving" to Benefit the Young Women's Leadership Network

Frances Green — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:08:16 -0500

Wanted to give a “shout out” to the wonderful work of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL). On July 20, 2011, the EpsteinBeckerGreen Women’s Initiative was privileged to sponsor a “Night of Giving” in conjunction with NAWL's Annual Meeting. For those professional women who read this blog and who are lawyers, NAWL is an organization that is about us and for us and – another good and professional way to network with successful women! The “Night of Giving” is a way that women attorneys, all of whom are members of NAWL, assist women and girls in various projects and organizations around the country that espouse the cause and champion the efforts of women in various academic and professional disciplines.

This most recent NAWL event was dedicated to benefitting the work of the Young Women’s Leadership Network (YWLN), a nonprofit organization that supports programs focused on helping urban youth break the cycle of poverty through college readiness and college access. Attendees at the event, who had been asked to bring various school supplies – from pens and pencils to thumb drives and phone cards – chatted, laughed, and listened to speakers as they wrapped journals to which they added their personal words of encouragement for the recipients. Speaking at the event, EBG partner Amy J. Traub, expressed the firm’s appreciation for the strong partnership that exists between NAWL and the EpsteinBeckerGreen Women’s Initiative:

It is through the efforts of the Women’s Initiative that EpsteinBeckerGreen was first introduced to NAWL. We stand behind NAWL and have formed our own internal EBG-NAWL Committee to help promote and foster the professional empowerment of women in the law and in the boardroom. We continue to look for ways to support NAWL’s efforts, and tonight is just one way that we can do that.

While some of us demonstrated better-honed wrapping skills than others, there was certainly no disparity when it came to generosity of spirit – just a group of women all giving of their time and energy to help smooth the path for the next generation of professional women – and having a really good time in the process!

Does the Inclusion of Women in Team Decision Making Actually Increase a Group's Intelligence?

Frances Green — Tue, 31 May 2011 08:53:49 -0500

Some new and interesting research by Anita Woolley (awoolley@cmu.edu) and Thomas Malone (malone@mit.edu) has been cited in June's Harvard Business Review. Woolley is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory at Carnegie Mellon University, and Malone is the Patrick J. McGovern Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and the founding Director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence.

Their research of team behavior and problem solving makes an interesting business case for gender diversity, concluding that "there's little correlation between a group's collective intelligence and the IQs of its individual members. But if a group includes more women, its collective intelligence rises." Thus, where strategic business decisions are being made at a group or team level, the inclusion of women spikes the quotient of intelligence, making a positive difference in decision-making outcomes. As Malone states, "The standard argument is that diversity is good and you should have both men and women in a group. But so far, the data show, the more women, the better." Indeed, research shows teams with more women tended to fall above the average of the collective intelligence scores of the teams studied by Malone and Woolley; the teams populated by men were below average in the same regard.

The moral: It's a no-brainer! If you want smarter boards of directors, corporate committees, or strategic business teams, Woolley and Malone's research supports increasing the participation of women.

15 Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs

Frances Green — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 08:47:12 -0500

Here is an interesting article and assessment of at least 15 women entrepreneurs: "15 Female Entrepreneurs Who Are Incredibly Inspiring." Indeed, the article has an eclectic grouping of women. However, we are sure our readers might know at least 15 who have not made this list!

New Study Reveals that Women Board Members Create Opportunities for Women Executives

Joan Disler — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:25:56 -0500

New findings by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University underscore the benefits of adding more women to corporate boards. Kellogg’s study, entitled “Chipping Away at the Glass Ceiling: Gender Spillovers in Corporate Leadership,” reveals that “a higher representation of women on a company’s board of directors directly increases the female share of and access to higher positions within the company.”

The news that putting more women on a company’s board leads to more women in top management positions at that company is very encouraging. As David Matsa, assistant professor of finance at Kellogg aptly points out, this is a situation of “‘women helping women’ at the highest level of company leadership.” However, on the flip side, the study found that increasing the number of female top-level managers at a company won’t result in more women occupying board seats.

The study’s findings were based on data from corporate boards and top executives at publicly traded companies during the years 1997-2009. To read a summary of the findings, go to Kellogg’s website.

At your company, have you seen any relationship between the gender makeup of its board and the ability of women to attain executive and managerial roles?

"Goddess Shift" Wins Book Award

Frances Green — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:55:28 -0500

I'm thrilled to report that Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change just won the USA Book News “Best Books 2010” award in the Women’s Issues category, and was a finalist in the Anthologies Nonfiction category.

Goddess Shift is an anthology of personal stories written by 43 women in leadership positions about how they have empowered themselves to create change in all walks of life. I am honored to be among the book's contributors, which include Oprah Winfrey, Suze Orman, Venus & Serena Williams, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Barbara Walters, Olympia Dukakis, and Maya Angelou.

All royalties from this book are going to three, exceptional non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women: Capacitar, the Global Fund for Women, and Tostan.

Go here to learn more about Goddess Shift. Additionally, you can read my entire chapter here. I hope the book will inspire you.

My Recent Interview with "The Miami Herald's" Work/Life Balance Act Blog

Frances Green — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:44:51 -0500

I was recently interviewed by Cindy Krischer Goodman, columnist of The Miami Herald's Work/Life Balance Act Blog, to discuss the EpsteinBeckerGreen Women’s Initiative, and what women in the workplace should be doing to help each other advance in their careers. Please go HERE to read the interview.

New Workshops Help Women Strengthen Their Leadership Skills

Frances Green — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:47:42 -0500

If you are in the New York City area and would like to strengthen your leadership skills and network with other women professionals, the Athena Leadership Lab at Barnard College (Columbia University's Liberal Arts College for Women), in Manhattan is offering hands-on courses designed to "teach women the practical elements of leadership – from the art of negotiation to effective public speaking, from financial fluency to management savvy." You don't need to be a current or past student of Barnard College to enroll.

The Athena Leadership Lab's "Knowledge and Know-How for Women" Fall 2010 Course Catalogue is available online. In it, you will find over 70 workshops divided into the following categories: "Communications," "Nonprofit Management," "Financial Fluency," "Negotiation," "Courage and Resilience," and "Entrepreneurial Skills." For more details, click here.

Do Women Really 'Hold the Cards' in Our Modern Economy?

Frances Green — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:34:45 -0500

You may have read a controversial and thought-provoking article in the July/August issue of The Atlantic magazine called "The End of Men." The article poses the following question: "What if the modern, postindustrial economy is simply more congenial to women than to men?" After all, as author Hanna Rosin points out, many more men than women lost their jobs during the recent recession, women now make up the majority of the U.S. workforce, most of the job categories that are expected to grow in the next decade are dominated by women, and women are obtaining more B.A. degrees than men. Ms. Rosin believes that all of these developments suggest that "the modern economy is becoming a place where women hold the cards."

But is the picture really that rosy for women?

Although more women than men are in the workforce, it is of note that the percentage of women in senior executive and board positions is low and has remained stagnant. According the "2009 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors," women held only 15.2 percent of board of director seats at Fortune 500 companies in 2009—the same percentage as the prior year. Also, according to the "2009 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Executive Officers and Top Earners," women held 13.5 percent of executive officer positions at Fortune 500 companies in 2009 and just 6.3 percent of top-earner positions.

In her article, Ms. Rosin concedes that “prominent female CEOs, past and present, are so rare that they count as minor celebrities.” The only bright side—which offers little consolation—is that female CEOs tend to earn more than their male counterparts and get bigger raises. Ms. Rosin doesn’t even mention that few women are being appointed to board seats or adequately confront the existence of the significant wage disparity in the workforce between men and women, CEO positions notwithstanding.

Is the fact that women have overtaken men in the workplace really just an unfortunate reality that women are simply less expensive to employ then men? As the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) recently pointed out, "In 2009, women who were full-time wage and salary workers had median weekly earnings that were about 80 percent of the earnings of their male counterparts." While the wage gap was not as wide among younger workers, women who were 35 years and older earned "roughly three-fourths as much as their male counterparts" last year. (See the BLS' report on women's earnings in 2009.)

Perhaps it may be premature to declare, as Ms. Rosin believes, that the economy is becoming “more congenial to women” and “a place where women hold the cards.”

What It Takes to Be a Winner

Frances Green — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:58:51 -0500

Please CLICK HERE to read about PowerPlay NYC's exciting, upcoming event--"What It Takes to Be a Winner"--which will be held on July 6, 2010, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Yale Club (50 Vanderbilt Avenue in Manhattan). The event will feature a conversation with Venus Williams, who is celebrating the publication of her new book entitled Come to Win: How Sports Can Help You Ace Your Goals and Top Your Profession, and lunch and leadership conversations with PowerPlay's Summer Leadership Academy participants.

PowerPlay NYC is a nonprofit organization that is committed to educating and empowering girls through sports, teaching life skills and building self-confidence and self-esteem for life.

New Book Inspires Women Leaders and Helps Support Women's Organizations

Frances Green — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:33:24 -0500

I am excited to bring to your attention an inspirational new book about women leaders, the proceeds of which will support several women's organizations globally. The book, Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change, is an anthology of personal stories written by 43 women in leadership positions about how they have empowered themselves to create change in all walks of life.

I am honored to be one of the contributors to the book. Other contributors include women leaders in many fields, including entertainment (Oprah Winfrey), finance (Suze Orman), government (Sonia Gandhi), sports (Venus & Serena Williams), social change and philanthropy (Angelina Jolie), journalism (Barbara Walters), and literature (Sue Monk Kidd). In my chapter, I discuss the driving forces that have shaped my professional journey from corporate executive to the convent of the Maryknoll Sisters to living and working in Japan to law school and, finally, to a career as a trial lawyer and co-founder of a women’s initiative.

I felt compelled to contribute my personal story because all royalties from this book will be used to support three, exceptional non-profit organizations dedicated to improving the lives of girls and women: Capacitar, the Global Fund for Women and Tostan.

Last week, the Fox News TV show “FOX & Friends” asked Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis (another Goddess Shift contributor) and me to discuss, among other things, what the book's title means. I told the interviewers that the word "Goddess" in the title refers to all women and that, to me, the phrase "Goddess Shift" means that women have moved from "setting the table" to "negotiating at the table." However, women still need to make the existential leap from participating in the corporate world as leaders to running our country. (Our FOX & Friends interviews (both the on-air and after-the-show interviews) are posted below.)

You can find more information about Goddess Shift, including sample chapters, here. I hope the book inspires more women to become leaders!