Although The White House Project has a strong concern for the lack of women in leadership within politics, the portion of the study on women in business was most intriguing for me. Three years ago, I started my career with Jackson Marketing Group (JMG). Fresh out of college, I had no thought of a shortage of women in leadership positions. The human resources manager who hired me was, and still is, female; JMG’s leadership team includes women; and I beat out a male intern for a full-time position at JMG.
Yet in the last three years, marketing speak has turned to realizing women’s purchasing power and the inadequate marketing to women. A simple YouTube search of “marketing to women” pulls up more than 70 million hits. She-conomy posted a fantastic infographic video highlighting women’s power in the economy. Their answer to the “why” advertisers misunderstand us is the fact that only 3% of advertising creative directors are women. The video adds statistics to the notion that we are powerful, but we may not be in the best positions for our needs and desires to be initiated.
The White House Project Report: Benchmarking Women’s Leadership is a national study outlining a shortage in women leaders. The report outlines deep problems—such as a wage gap between men and women that increases with age—and it also offers great solutions—such as setting targets, amplifying our voices and improving workplace flexibility. But what about those women who are leading? How did they empower themselves? What were their struggles? What are their leadership styles? I decided to ask two women in leadership at Jackson Marketing Group to find some answers.
Executive Director #1
Leaders exist in two types: a leader by title and a servant leader. While these two leaders are not mutually exclusive, often the servant leader is in a support role within a company. This servant leader may be the reason the executive is successful. She is a hard worker—an expert in her field. When colleagues need a task to be completed on a tight deadline, she is the one they call. They have confidence in her ability, listen to her suggestions, and will never hear “that’s not my job.”
When an executive position is vacated, the servant leader should be the one promoted. Now, this may not be possible—such as in a law office, a legal assistant cannot become a lawyer without the bar exam. But in a marketing agency, it may be possible. The servant leader has not gone unnoticed, not if she understands clients’ needs and meets those needs with creative solutions.
Once again though, there is a “however.” Many of these women in support roles with the expertise are also mothers. The luxury of an executive position may not be feasible if they want to keep their work/home balance. Many women need a job in which they can consistently walk out the door at 5 PM each day in order to provide dinner for their children. Other reasons besides childcare: she may be caring for an ill relative or is just plain worked to death already. Home management can easily be a full-time job. As She-conomy partly covered, most women do the spending/budget/shopping/laundry/feeding/cleaning. But if a mother has someone to partner in these home responsibilities, then she’s ready to talk executive!
Executive Director #2
Male or female, leaders are made by their work ethic and good attitude. A college graduate’s first job is not prestigious; everyone has to put in their time. But a good work ethic and good attitude will launch that graduate farther faster. It’s the same process in your first job as making the Varsity basketball team—you have to try-out. Show them your skills; prove your worth.
One can choose to love challenges, face each with confidence and learn from each. Managing employees means to challenge them by giving them new experiences. The best way to grow is to tackle a new opportunity and learn from it. Forget titles, position or pay—focus on doing each task successfully.
I spoke with two different women with difference leadership styles and different approaches to the subject. But both women themselves prove that female leadership is attainable and rewarding. Women are “solidly entrenched in the workforce” and are earning the majority of college degrees. With these ideas, struggles and tools taken to heart, women can be successful and overcome the odds. I bet if we choose to do so, women can infiltrate leadership positions in businesses and organizations. For example, I could mention the recent South Carolina primaries and the possibility of a woman leading the state of South Carolina. But that brings me back into politics.…