Women on Boards ??

“You could be forgiven for thinking women have not just broken through the glass ceiling, but smashed it to bits, melted it down and had it recast into nameplates for their executive suites.” wrote Daniel Hatch in The West Australian recently.

Kudos to Daniel for a great turn of phrase! Regrettably, it’s not the case although he did offer reasons why it should be:

Australia’s Prime Minister and Governor-General are women. [Ed - and so is NSW's Governor]. Every night industry leaders like Westpac Bank boss Gail Kelly and recently retired Australian Industry Group chief executive Heather Ridout are on television, fighting the hard fight on behalf of business. Gina Rinehart, a WA woman in charge of a mining empire, is Australia’s richest individual.

So, how is it that in 2012 we have a mere 13.8% of Board positions held by women, an increas of only 5% in the last 4 years? 32% of the Top 200 listed companies on the ASX have no female Board members at all!

Follow Daniel’s story at http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/a/-/news/13112861/glass-ceiling-still-exists-despite-progress/

When the Glass Ceiling Breaks

Maggie Thatcher has a lot to answer for.

The former (and first female) Prime Minister of Britain from 1979 to 1990 was also the longest-serving PM in modern times. Revered and reviled for her tough stance and unbending will, she epitomised what people did not like about women in power. Tough. Arrogant. Unsympathetic. And yet, she was unquestionably successful.

meryl streep, maggie thatcher, glass ceiling

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Not Enough Female Leaders – Why

The fact remains that in the world and across our society we have far less women leaders than men. Sheryl Sandberg gives us the reasons why, as she sees them. Watch closely.

Women do not rise to the top of their professions as men do. Is that because there are valid reasons, systemic barriers or is it simply that women exercise their power of choice?