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Why Women Mean Business

Why Women Mean Business Understanding the Emergence of our next Economic Revolution

Author: Avivah Wittenberg-Cox ; Alison Maitland
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 9780470725085
Published In: January 2008
Format: Hardback , 376 pages
Jurisdiction: International ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

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Never before has there been such a confluence of international attention to the economic importance of women and the need for policies to enable them to fulfil their potential. The position of women - as employees, consumers and leaders - is seen as a measure of health, maturity and economic viability.

Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an ageing workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results.

The optimisation of women’s talents will boost the bottom line. Taking action to achieve this will require sustained courage and conviction from today’s corporate leaders. Reading Why Women Mean Business will be an important first step.

Reviews

"This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace..." (Women-omics.com, October 9th 2008)

"Wittenberg-Cox & Maitland have opened new ground (and) added a useful dimension to the debate" Management Today, February 2008)

"Offers many fascinating findings on the roles of women today... a highly collaborative book" (People Management, Thursday 7th February 2008)

"...a cheering alternative to the traditional whinge about men holding women back in the workplace" (Financial World, February 2008)

"step-by-step guide for mangers on how to create growth by valuing the input of both women and men" (theglasshammer.com. Tuesday 5th February 2008)

" need Maitland and Wittenberg-Cox to spell out the persistence of "soft" barriers and spur the politicians to demand reforms." (commentisfree.guardian.co.uk)

"At least someone is talking sense, and we shouldn't be surprised that it's a woman." (Scotland On Sunday, Monday 11th February 2008)

“Why Women Mean Business is an innovative and stimulating book.” (Financial Times, Tuesday 26th February 2008)

“[The authors] make a convincing case for more women in senior business roles. The case is supported by sound research.“ (Financial Times, Thursday 28th February 2008)

“…offers practical advice, backed up by case studies and statistics.” (Director, March 2008)

“This powerful new book brings together…the multiplicity of opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women...” (The Business Channel Newsletter, March 2008)

“…this book lays out the importance of retaining women in senior leadership positions, and the dangers of ignoring half the talent pool.” (Harper's Bazaar, April 2008)

“The authors have been meticulous in their research, with an impressive collection of up-to-date, relevant case studies and statistics.” (Personnel Today, Tuesday 1st April 2008)

"Why and how to improve women's place in business leadership”. (International Herald Tribune, Friday 4th April 2008)

“The book is a comprehensive understanding of the emergence of women as the next economic revolution”. (TNT Link newsletter, March 2008)

Foreword by Niall FitzGerald KBE.

Preface by Michael Kimmel.

Acknowledgements.

CHAPTER ONE: WOMENOMICS.

Guarantors of Growth.

The Strategic Side of the Gender Divide.

Opportunity Cost.

Valuing Difference.

Becoming "Gender-Bilingual".

Declining Demographics is not Destiny.

21st Century Forces: Weather, Women, Web.

CHAPTER TWO: MOST OF THE TALENT.

The "Talent Wars" are Here.

Female Brainpower.

Under-used Talent.

The Role of Business Schools.

Tapping into the Pool.

Recruiting: Making Women Welcome.

Retaining: Structural Repairs Needed.

Promoting: Return on Investment.

Building Better Boards.

Legislating Solutions – the Controversial Quota.

CHAPTER THREE: MUCH OF THE MARKET.

Purchasing Power – Beyond Parity.

Female Finances.

Sex and Segmentation.

The Many Faces of Marketing to Women.

Shut-your Eyes.

Marginalise.

Specialise.

Prioritise.

CHAPTER FOUR: BECOMING "BILINGUAL", WHAT COMPANIES CAN DO.

A Fresh Look at Traditional Approaches to Gender.

Equal and Different.

Diversity Dilemmas.

Recognise that "Best" is Biased.

Surprising Sectors.

A New Approach to Gender.

Understand the Starting Point.

Personalise the Conversation.

Manage the Metaphors – The Power of Vocabulary and Vision.

The Building Blocks of Bilingualism.

1. "Getting it": Top Management Commitment.

2. Management Bilingualism: Proactively Managing Difference.

3. Empowering Women: The Knowledge and Networks to Succeed.

4. Banning Bias: Identifying and Eliminating Systemic Bias from Corporate Systems and Processes.

CHAPTER FIVE: SEVEN STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION.

Key Success Factors

1. Awaken Your Leadership Team.

2. Define the Business Case.

3. Let People Express Resistance.

4. Make it a Business Issue, not a Women’s Issue.

5. Make Changes Before Making Noise.

6. Don’t Mix up the Messages.

7. Give it a Budget, not just Volunteers.

CHAPTER SIX: CULTURE COUNTS, WHAT COUNTRIES CAN DO.

Making Bosses and Babies.

Best and Worst: Surprising Results.

Imperfect Deal in America.

Continents of Contrast.

Public Policy Pull, Private Sector Push.

CHAPTER SEVEN: FIGURING OUT FEMALES.

What Companies Need to Know About Women.

Discomfort with "Politics".

The Conversations that Matter.

Careers are not Straight Lines.

Phase 1: Ambition.

Phase 2: Culture Shock.

Phase 3: Self-affirmation.

The Lure of Entrepreneurship.

Alternative Views of "Power".

Sex, Success and the Media.

Change Agents on their Own Terms.

CHAPTER EIGHT: TOMORROW’S TALENT TRENDS … TODAY, "WOMEN-FRIENDLY" MEANS "PEOPLE-FRIENDLY".

New Models of Work.

Fathers Count Too.

Technology as Enabler.

The Value of "Grey" Brainpower.

Making the Most of the "Me" Generation.

The Future is Already Here.

CHAPTER NINE: CONCLUSION, FROM BETTER BUSINESS TO A BETTER WORLD?

New Voices, New Choices.

New Measures of Success.

A Challenge for Business.

Index.

AVIVAH WITTENBERG-COX is CEO of 20-First, one of Europe’s leading gender consultancies. 20-First works with progressive companies interested in building gender ‘bilingual’ organisations that capture the opportunities offered by the other half of the talent pool and the other half of the market – the female half. The firm’s renowned Bilingual Leadership programmes help executives – men and women - manage difference more effectively.

Avivah is also the Founder and Honorary President of the European Professional Women’s Network (www.EuropeanPWN.net), a certified executive coach and was a Visiting Coach at INSEAD. She is a popular speaker on leadership and gender issues across Europe and has had articles and interviews published in publications such as the International Herald Tribune and the Financial Times. Canadian, French and Swiss. In 2007, ELLE Magazine recognised her as one of the TOP 40 Women Leading Change. She lives in France with her husband and gender balanced children (a son and a daughter).

ALISON MAITLAND is an independent journalist and commentator who has been researching and writing about women in business for a decade. She spent 20 years with the Financial Times, including eight years as Management Writer. Her other specialist areas are leadership and corporate responsibility.

Alison is a Senior Visiting Fellow in the Faculty of Management at Cass Business School, City University, London. She is a conference speaker and moderator and she directs the Work-Life & Diversity Council of The Conference Board Europe. She served on the advisory group for the Equal Opportunities Commission’s 2007 investigation into the Transformation of Work. She lives in the UK with her husband and two daughters.