Monday, May 21, 2012

The Business Case for Gender Diversity | Career Thought Leaders

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The Scottsdale National Gender Diversity Institute?provides resources and answers to gender issues in the workplace.? Talented women are leaving corporate America. Why are they leaving? Why does it matter? I read an article The Business Case for Gender Diversity written by the Institute?wherethese important questions are?answered.

Why are Women Leaving?

In a study conducted by Catalyst, the National Foundation for Women Business Owners, participants cited the following four reasons for leaving corporate jobs to start their own business:

  • The need for more flexibility
  • The glass ceiling
  • Unhappiness with the work environment
  • Lack of challenge

The participants of this study reported the following statements:

  • Their contributions were not recognized or valued
  • They were not taken seriously
  • They felt isolated as one of few women or minorities
  • They were excluded from informal networks
  • They were excluded from training opportunities
  • They faced inhospitable corporate cultures

Why Should Companies be Concerned?

Besides the costs associated with turnover and loss of institutional knowledge, companies that pursue and manage gender diversity can see these advantages:

  • Better financial results
  • Improved access to growing, well-educated segment of the workforce
  • Improved market share
  • Better management

The Bottom Line

According to the study,???the 25 Fortune 500 firms with the best record of promoting women to high positions are between 18 and 69 percent more profitable than the median Fortune 500 firms in their industries.? The number of women enrolled in postsecondary educational institutions and the number of women in the workforce exceed that of men. Women are responsible for 83% of all consumer purchases, according to Marketing to Women: How to Understand, Reach, and Increase Your Share of the World?s Largest Market Segment.? Another important anecdote, ?Women possess a unique combination of interpersonal and work ethic traits that seem tailor-made for the management ranks.?

The study concludes that both men and women have unique and valuable talents to contribute to organizations. A win-win scenario is one in which gender diversity is valued and opportunities are available to both genders.

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. Joan Runnheim Olson, M.S., ACC, CCMC, CLTMC, Certified Five O'Clock Club Career Coach
Pathways Career Success Strategies, LLC
Thought Leadership: Non-Traditional Careers
Website: www.pathwayscareer.com
Email:
Phone: 715.808.0344

For nearly 15 years, Joan has worked in various venues to encourage non-traditional career paths for males and females. As a project coordinator for a Dept. of Labor grant, she moved more women into the auto service industry as auto service technicians, aka mechanics and service advisers. As an assessment/placement specialist for a pre-apprenticeship training program for women, Joan helped women break into and succeed in male-dominated jobs in the trades. She presents workshops throughout the U.S. to secondary and post-secondary educators, administrators, counselors, and career center staff and teaches them strategies to recruit and retain students in classes and programs which prepare them for non-traditional careers.

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