Women are capable of leading companies ...

One of my favorite sister bloggers, Jory Des Jardines of BlogHer, wrote this excellent commentary relating to postings made here on August 7 and 15. I know you will appreciate it.

Women in Technology or Entrepreneurship?

I could not help but think that these same skills (below) for a career in IT are applicable to women in entrepreneurship!

What skills would you look for in young people that want a career in IT (or entrepreneurship)?

CB: I'd look for someone prepared to keep an open mind about the possibilities and with passion to make a difference through information technology.

AB: Understanding what the technology can do. It isn't an end in itself.

CE: Successful business is all about teamwork. As a result, when building a team I look to hire people who combine intellect and passion for their chosen field. BlackBerry is successful because of our people's energy, enthusiasm and commitment.

AJ: Energy, curiosity, dynamism, self-starter, eager to stretch themselves, intellect, emotional intelligence.

Read this interesting dialog between women executives who are enthusiastic advocates of women in business in the Women in Technology: ITWales Interview.

Proof Is In the Stats: Women-owned Firms Increase Nearly 20 Percent

Women-owned firms increased nearly 20 percent, while all U.S. firms grew by seven percent over the latest period studied (1997 and 2002), based on a report released by the Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The report uses newly released U.S. Census and other data to describe women's contributions to the economy. Statistics documented in the report include:

• Women owned 6.5 million or 28.2 percent of nonfarm U.S. firms in 2002. More than 14 percent of these women-owned firms were employers, with 7.1 million employees and $173.7 billion in annual payroll.

• Women-owned firms accounted for 6.5 percent of total employment in U.S. firms in 2002 and 4.2 percent of total receipts.

• Of all women business owners in 2002, 85.95 percent were White, 8.43 percent African American, 8.33 percent Hispanic, 5.25 percent Asian, 1.23 percent American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.18 percent Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander (total does not add to 100 due to some double counting across ethnic groups).

The report Women in Business: A Demographic Review of Women's Business Ownership was written by Office of Advocacy senior economist Dr. Ying Lowrey.

For a copy of this study (PDF file), click here.

Should you need further information, please feel free to contact Ying Lowrey at: (202) 205-6533.

Escape to Corporate America!

Asian Woman Named CEO at Pepsi!

PepsiCo has promoted its chief financial officer, Indra Nooyi, to become chief executive of the drinks manufacturer, making her one of the most powerful women in corporate America.

Ms Nooyi, who was born in India, will take over immediately in a surprise reshuffle, cementing her position after several years in which the board has fought to keep her from leaving for a senior job elsewhere.

Go Indra!

Women are a blogging powerhouse

As the article states ...

"Some people ask me, 'Aren't you worried you won't get hired because of what's on your blog?' On the contrary, she said, "I get hired because of my blog. It's my way to idiot-proof my life. If you don't like my blog, don't hire me!"

How is your business or blog changing the world? Read: Women tap the power of the blog.

Tip for the day: Make blogging your business.

Cherchez La Femme (WSJ, Aug 4): Read it to believe it!

Cherchez la femme ... translation can be found here.

It took me until now to track the following opinion piece written by Judith H. Dobrzynski and published by The Wall Street Journal Thursday, August 4. WSJ, thus far, has decided to release it only online to their subscriber base. Since I get the print edition, I don't bother with the online version. Please take a moment to read this thoughtful piece and forward it to whoever you think might find it interesting:

Cherchez la Femme

Here is a subsequent correction to the article posted in WSJ's Saturday (8/5) edition:

Patricia A. Woertz was named CEO, in April, of Archer Daniels Midland, ranked No. 56 on the Fortune 500. An opinion article by Judith H. Dobrzynski on Aug. 4, "Cherchez La Femme," said there were no women CEOs in the Fortune 100. (The number of women CEOs in the Fortune 500, however, was stated correctly as 10, and did include Ms. Woertz.)

And here is my response to the WSJ Opinion editor sent by email on Saturday, August 5:

"Cherchez la Femme" (OPINION, August 4) is right on target. But there is one person Ms. Dobrzynski left out in her investigation: former Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and publisher of The Wall Street Journal, Karen Elliott House. House was among those considered for CEO of the WSJ but was passed over for Richard F. Zannino, who was the first to break with a tradition of journalists presiding over the company.

So instead of taking a chance by promoting a woman from within the ranks of The Wall Street Journal -- and one who was largely responsible for the launch of the Weekend Edition -- they brought in a man from the outside with no journalism experience but lots of fashion house and retail knowledge. How's that for a calculated risk?

WSJ decided to go with a man with no experience at the paper instead of a woman who brought the paper success and accolades. After that, Karen Elliott House announced she would retire after 32 years with the newspaper.

It's no wonder women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men. And they will continue to do so until parity is achieved in the corner CEO office.

Sincerely,
Laurel Delaney

Since then, I have been in touch with Dobrzynski. Let's see if the WSJ is gutsy enough to publish my letter. What's your take on this?

Get ready, get set and launch ladies

According to the 2005 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Report more than 340 million people worldwide tried to launch businesses in 2004. This is a significant increase from 2003 and 2004.

The United States ranked seventh in the number of start-ups and California has more documented start-up business than any other state. Unfortunately, statistically only one-third of those start-ups will get off the ground and survive past two years.

Here are some -- eight to be exact -- strategies to encourage start-up success or at least limit start-up failure.

Action strategies to launch your business.