On Diversity, America Isn't Putting Its Money Where Its Mouth Is

Are there pay discrepancies between men and women in corporate America? If you guessed yes, you guessed right. And unfortunately, we -- the women -- lose. That is, if you work in corporate America. Fortunately, I don't.

And that's why entrepreneurship is becoming more and more attractive to corporate folks the longer we go without closing the gender pay gap.

Read more here.

Quoted from the article:

Diversity is good for the bottom line because it enables them [business chiefs] to recruit the best talent, enlist broad thinking and reach diverse customers world-wide.

Lose Job; Start a Business

Downsizing can help jump-start entrepreneurs. Losing a job can be just the impetus needed for starting your own company. You end up walking out with a smile on your face.

And in this article be sure to check out the small business advice section in the call-out box which refers to a concept called start-up graveyard -- something you will want to avoid.

Read more here.

50 Top Women in Tech

What an extraordinary group of women!

Corporate Board Member has put together this list to help boards redress two common shortfalls: an overall lack of technology experience among directors and a shortage of female directors in general. The women we’re portraying speak about their own adventures in the technology industry, the effects their gender may have had on their careers, and the extent to which things might be different for those who come after them. The ones who have already made their mark are selective about which boards they’ll even consider (for more, see “Stalled Gains for Women in Technology”). Whitman says the growing number of women who earn engineering degrees will push the needed change. Maybe. But compared with 25 years ago, fewer women are graduating in tech-related fields. Recruiters and board members, particularly those serving on the governance committee, should move fast.

A hat tip to Judith Dobrzynski for turning us on to it. Promise me you will read each and every one of the features and that you will pass this brilliant piece along to everyone you know!

Are You a Thinker?

Who is the most influential living management thinker? Is it you? That was the simple question that inspired the original Thinkers 50 in 2001. A lot of hard work and number-crunching later, the answer became the first global ranking of business gurus.

The Thinkers 50 2007 provides a completely new ranking and one that reflects only a handful of women. See for yourself.

I think we should start a Women Entrepreneurs 50 2008 covering the most influential living women entrepreneurs. What do you think?

A Guy-Block in Disguise

Women occupy 40% of all managerial positions in the United States. But only 6% of the Fortune 500's top executives are female. And just 2% of those firms have women CEOs. What's getting in their way?

Perhaps its leadership style?

Put on your boxing gloves ladies!

Escape Suburbia

Every once in a while I stumble upon something that I think is hilarious, odd, interesting, compelling, or, as in this case, so close to home on what we are doing here that I absolutely must share it with you.

Escape From Suburbia. Yes, you read that right. The first link is a film from the Film Connection and the second link is the website that goes along with it.

About the film:

In this sequel to the acclaimed documentary The End of Suburbia, we meet three people and one town in California who are moving forward consciously and responsibly from a lifestyle built on cheap and abundant oil. Its a film about reinventing local economies and rediscovering personal empowerment in our communities as we move into the post-carbon age.

Okay. Let's translate that for Escape From Corporate America:

At this blog, which is associated to the acclaimed article, Escape From Corporate America, we meet women who are fed up with Corporate America and are moving forward consciously and responsibly from a lifestyle built on shattered glass to that of building their own ventures. Its a blog about reinventing local and global economies and rediscovering personal empowerment worldwide as we move into the age of adventure and spirited entrepreneurship!

There you have it.

16 Ways of Looking at a Female Voter

In light of today being Super Tuesday, Linda Hirshman covers what we do and don't know about gender and politics.

Read her comprehensive article in the New York Times Magazine (2/3/08).

In case you don't know about Linda's work, here are a couple of clips:

Unleashing the Wrath of Stay-at-Home Moms

Homeward Bound

And her official site.

Female Ownership Matters

Patricia Karter, Dancing Deer Bakery CEO, thinks a better gender balance in the business world could improve society as a whole.

What do you think? Read more here.