Innholdsfortegnelse for April/May 2020 i Working Mother

“Building anything of value in life, whether it’s a startup, a relationship or a team, is about resilience.” You know those pithy Rent the Runway emails you get after ordering a dress? The ones that are like, “Let the countdown begin” or “We know; we can’t wait either”? This wasn’t one of those. It was just a couple of weeks before Working Mother’s 100 Best Companies Gala, a glitzy gathering in an upscale Manhattan hotel ballroom. I was set to take the stage to announce the top 10 companies. Having suffered from several faux pas in previous years—a fashion-tape-immune blue gown that kept flopping down in the back; a short, pink dress that would expose the top of my bra or the bottom of my Spanx, depending on how I…

It shows we aren’t always the ones who need help—we can do the helping too.  “We are always talking about men mentoring women, and we make it seem as if women are weak or lesser than, and they need the help of men,” says Rania H. Anderson, executive business coach and author of WE: Men, Women and the Decisive Formula for Winning at Work. “But we don’t show that men need the help of women also.” After all, she adds, many women leaders are excellent at relationship building, a key skill in today’s business environment that requires deep collaboration. Women make the majority of purchase decisions. “Understanding female clients is critical to anyone’s success, so if you’re a man selling to women, the absence of a female perspective is going to…

The New York-based company is moving to new office space in Brooklyn this year and is continuing to grow. Yes, they need fashion buyers, but also data, engineering, logistics, customer service, and brand and marketing pros. Here’s what CEO Jennifer Hyman thinks you should—and shouldn’t—do to plot your path there. Don’t copy Jenn. “People know I called Diane Von Furstenberg and they realize, ‘Wait, maybe I could call Jenn.’ I often respond to emails and meet with women and people of color, but I have only so many hours in the day, and most of those hours have to be consumed by doing my job and being a mom.” Research all the employees who have influence. “It’s not me who’s going to get you the job, especially if you’re applying to a…

P&L (profit & loss) experience is critical to becoming a CEO. Yet only 10 percent of P&L jobs are held by women, who comprise only about 5 percent of CEOs at leading corporations. Why are so few women in this pipeline? A recent McKinsey study found that about the same number of women and men enter corporate America, but women are underrepresented in P&L and core operational roles at every level. By the time they reach the senior vice president level, women are only 21 percent. “We find mostly men in the pipeline—the feeder positions—for the top jobs,” says Betty Spence, Ph.D., president of NAFE. Working Mother Research Institute’s “Gender Gap at the Top” research found four reasons for this: lack of awareness about the importance of P&L; failure to…

“My husband and I made an agreement: If he is not up and ready when I am, he gets left behind. I don’t set alarms or hassle him. He gets a one-day warning and that’s it.”—Belle Bradley, mental health professional “I usually get ready early, then help my husband with any last-minute tasks he needs to do before leaving the house. It makes him feel like we are a team working toward the same goal.”—Shannon McDermott, behavioral therapist “Don’t expect your spouse to be rational. Our behavior in these relatively low-importance situations is controlled by the most primitive part of our brain: the limbic system (also called ‘lizard brain’). Nudges, signals, winks and other kabuki moves have more effect than shaming.”—Oksana Hagerty, Ph.D., educational and developmental psychologist, Beacon’s College in…

1 Mom gets home from work at 6 p.m., serves dinner by 7, and sees that school has assigned her kindergartener and third grader each an hour of homework. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends up to 12 hours of sleep for kids ages 6 to 12. Q. By how much can she inflate the numbers on their reading logs without arousing suspicion? 2 Mom gets a memo about two school events in the same week—a Mother’s Day luncheon on Monday and musical performance on Thursday, both scheduled at noon. Mom gently suggests that some events be held close to morning drop-off so parents don’t need to take a full day off work. She gets pegged as a complainer. Q. How many fake email addresses will she need to use—posing…

Women now make up a majority of the US workforce, but we’re woefully underrepresented in positions of power. A Working Mother Research Institute report, “The Gender Gap at the Top,” revealed one of the main reasons for that: women’s reluctance to go for a job without meeting 100 percent of the qualifications on the listing. Men, on the other hand, apply when they meet only 60 percent, according to a Hewlett-Packard internal report. But as these five women prove, it’s possible to get hired when your resume isn’t a perfect fit. Most often, it takes persistence, passion and people who have your back—be it a supportive spouse or powerful mentor. Just as crucial: Hiring managers who believe talent can compensate for missing skills—a mindset that’s mandatory for closing the gender…

“When I do my hair and makeup, I feel like I’m in power. I’m almost always dressed up. I never know who I’m going to meet that day.” “It’s important that we RNs perform our tasks with confidence so patients trust us. When you look good, you feel good, and that will project onto others, bringing positivity when you walk in the room.” “Looking fashionable helps ensure every guest receives a luxurious experience.” “I bond with clients through my funky outfits. First impressions helped me make those relationships.” “When you have to make people feel safe, they need to feel like you have it together. That’s why it matters so much. I stay ready so I don’t have to get ready.” “When I challenge myself to look the way I…

“We apply the same rigor to understanding the experiences of our employees as we do to understanding our patients. Our Women’s Journey employee research, modeled after patient research, helped us support greater career growth and increase the representation of women in leadership. The unique perspectives of women truly make a difference.”—Joy Fitzgerald; Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer; Eli Lilly and Company; Indianapolis, Indiana “In today’s rapidly changing world, we need a new kind of leader—someone who inspires others and is committed to sustaining an inclusive and caring culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We are committed to developing and empowering our women by providing equal access to opportunities and experiences, including mentorship and sponsorship programs, so they can bring out the best in themselves and others.”—Kelly…

Top Executive of the Year Susan W. Dio Chairman and President, BP America The first 17 years of my career were at BP’s Green Lake Chemicals plant near Victoria, Texas. My husband owned and operated a small business where we lived. The work was physically and mentally rewarding. I qualified as a certified welding inspector (the only woman with that cert at our facility) and, alongside an innovative team, filed two patents. But after the birth of our second child, I decided to pursue part-time employment. I’ll never forget one coworker’s comment: “I thought you were more serious about your career.” But in my heart, I knew I could never regain those years or experiences with my young children. BP worked with me to design a schedule. It had never…

A few months ago in a law office in Manhattan, a male partner faced a dilemma: He was nervous about taking a female associate to a client dinner because there would be alcohol and it would end late. So he took a male associate instead. The scenario wasn’t real, but it could have been. Actors depicted it during an exclusive leadership training program at Dechert LLP. The goal: to highlight the confusion surrounding appropriate workplace behavior, which the #MeToo movement has thrust into the spotlight. “This type of thing is hugely detrimental to female associates and younger female partners,” says Hector Gonzalez, partner and chair of Dechert’s global litigation practice. “Success at a big law firm is not exclusively based on someone’s skills as a lawyer, but also on the…

In a sea of khaki trenches, this Herschel MAC in Heather Rose stands out—and keeps you dry—in the most ladylike way possible. Wear it with jeans or a dress; either way, it’s perfectly posh. ($150, herschelsupply.com) Satisfy savory cravings with Hilo Life snack mixes. The protein-packed flavor combos—crispy cheddar and almonds, or creamy gouda and pecans—taste positively gourmet. With only 3 to 4 grams of net carbs per bag, it’s keto-friendly too. ($15 for a six-pack, hilolife.com) For perked-up skin on the go, spread open an Alleyoop Stack the Odds multiuse face palette on one hand. Then apply cream blush, highlight and contour with the other. ($32, meetalleyoop.com) You won’t feel guilty getting an energy boost from this Pop & Bottle Supers Variety three-pack. Each tasty oat-milk latte has only…

As sacred as her maternity leaves were, there was at least one professional event exciting enough to take Jennifer Hyman away from her second baby: a gathering of other women founders of “unicorns,” privately held companies valued at over $1 billion. But Jenn and her family—which includes husband Ben Stauffer and daughters, 3-year-old Aurora and infant Selene—were living at the beach for the summer, a long way from the Manhattan apartment of the event’s host. Rather than attempt to breast-pump while driving, Jenn took an hours long bus ride to the city. When the time came, she did what any nursing mom would do: She pumped in the back seat. “I was like, ‘Oh, my god, if anyone took a photo of this, it would be on the front page…

Abbott Abbott Park, Illinois Chairman and CEO Miles D. White Executive VP, HR Mary Moreland The three-day Executive Compass program provides new senior leaders with a deep dive into the healthcare company’s strategy, with support from professors from Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. In 2018, 26 percent of participants were women. AbbVie North Chicago, Illinois Chairman and CEO Richard Gonzalez Executive VP, Chief HR Officer Tim Richmond The pharmaceutical company launched the five-month Women’s Leadership Journey, providing skills and perspectives needed for senior roles. Participants meet with senior women leaders from across the enterprise to support relationship building. At the conclusion, they present leadership impact statements, establish a peer network, and prepare to mentor the next cohort. Accenture New York, New York CEO…