Women in Media Conference
Basically, numbers were thrown about, such as the lack of women at board level in FTSE 100 companies, in order to prove that women still face a "glass ceiling". I think this view is overly simplistic. What about the statistics that more women than men run their own companies? Does this not suggest women are making a conscious choice not to pursue their way up the career ladder? I think women and men are fundamentally different. We have different priorities and different needs. A man may think that a six figure salary, fast car and weekends on the golf course make his life complete, women will rarely think that. Most women value relationships over money. Much is made of women having to sacrifice careers for children but it is often a choice women willingly make.
I believe that it is not a gender divide at the top but a personality one. Men who aren't prepared to work long hours, drink with the boys, play golf, whatever, are also under represented at the top. Maybe it's not that you have to be a man to be at the top but that you have to be a certain type of person. I believe it is difficult, if not impossible, to maintain a good quality of life, a good work/life balance and good relationships with family, friends etc when work is your life. And work HAS to be your life if you want to be at board level in a FTSE 100 company. Maybe the under representation of women at this level is simply because we have more sense, hehe.
09 March 2007