Executive Turned President of USA: Is That You?

If you have never been President of anything, can you run for President of the United States? Do you think it's a more natural transition for a woman to go from CEO of a publicly-traded company to President of the United States versus leaping from founder of an entrepreneurial venture?

Meg Whitman, for example, the former eBay chief executive who is a big fundraiser for Senator John McCain, is said to be interested in running for governor of California, which would make her a natural contender for president. (Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive advising Mr. McCain, is another name mentioned as a possible executive turned candidate, though she is not believed to want to run.)

But almost anybody — and particularly women — will discount the idea of a woman as dark horse.

Read the article, "She Just Might Be President Someday."

Sometimes You Just Gotta Say Yes

VivaTerra, a fine artisan and earth-friendly goods place, is offering a 100% recycled and 100% cool, scrappy bag (pictured) that dances with color from sassy fringe to comfy 22" straps. (10"Lx19"W), called the "Yes Bag" for U.S. $64. But if you mention code NT805, get $10 off. Offer good until 6/7/08.

Just say yes here.

Note: We have no affiliation to this company.

Why Men Get Ahead and Women Get Ignored

And you wonder why we start businesses?

Research looks at why 'Finn' gets ahead and 'Josie' gets ignored, especially in tech, science, engineering fields.

Read Barbara Rose's interesting article here.

Female CEOs Are Tops

Find out who made the top 10 list here.

Hint: Mary Sammons (pictured), Chairman, President and CEO of Rite Aid, did.

Should we come up with our own list for privately-held women-owned or led companies?

50 Fastest: Is That You?

Entrepreneur magazine, in partnership with the Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), is launching the 2nd annual list of the 50 fastest-growing women-led companies across the nation and Canada.

That's gotta be you! Apply here. And good luck!

State of Business for Women of Color

Results of a multi-year study conducted by the Center for Women’s Business Research in partnership with Babson College exploring the impact of race and gender on the growth of businesses owned by women who are African-American, Asian, Latina and other ethnicities show that women of color are starting businesses at rates three to five times faster than all other businesses. However, once in business, their growth lags behind all other firms.

The research found that being a business owner who is a woman of color can evoke misperceptions about business capacity, result in lessened access to capital for business growth, create the challenge of balancing the expectations and demands of running a business and being part of a diverse culture, and increase the difficulty of attracting top talent. The research also pointed out that many women business owners of color have a double bottom line. They work to give back to their communities as well as for profits.

Read more here and at the blog of the Center for Women's Business Research during the 2008 National Symposium.

Are You a New Media Woman Entrepreneur?

New Media Women Entrepreneurs (NMWE) is a unique initiative addressing opportunity and innovation, recruitment and retention for women in journalism by spotlighting their ingenuity and entrepreneurial abilities.

Pilot projects will show what can be done. Research will tell us what more to do. And an awards program and summit will showcase women’s creative ideas. NMWE is supported by the McCormick Tribune Foundation.

Find out more here.

Escape to Candyland

Altoids, Amorini Hearts, Brach unwrapped, M&M's, Jelly Belly Bags, Pez dispensers, Pop Rocks, Tootsie Rolls, Jordan Almonds, body parts, candy canes, animals, Gone Fishing, Just Quit Smoking, Charms, Smarties, Ferrara Pan, Goetze's, Dryden and Palmer, Double Bubble, Foreign Candy Company, Grethers Pastilles, Haribo, Jolly Rancher, Just Born, Kenny's, Kidsmania, Kokos Confections, NECCO, Perfetti Van Melle, Sour Punch, Spangler, Wrigley, Wonka and more.

What do they all have in common?

Escape to candyland.