Happy Monday:
This past week has been an amazing one in terms of revelations – it certainly is a first in my lifetime to hear a presidential candidate bragging about the fact that his celebrity allows him to commit sexual assault with impunity – and that really is what our daughters, sisters and friends are exposed to as women in the workplace or anywhere really. Which brings us to our first article – women make up 51% of the population, so why in 2016 does this behavior go unchecked? It seems it has a lot to do with the fact that women are all not on the same page. We come in all shapes, sizes and colors and we spend a good deal of time judging each other rather than supporting one another. Politics aside, as long as we are divided, we can be preyed upon. The full article can be found here:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/opinion/sunday/the-monster-sorority-of-women-voters.html
From the technology industry, John Greathouse, an entrepreneur, investor and professor, wrote an op ed suggesting that if women wanted to get ahead in technology, they should use their initials and not their full names so folks would judge them on their work and not their gender. Maybe the University of California should reconsider who they allow to teach their students. The full article (including his subsequent apology) can be found here: http://blogs.wsj.com/experts/2016/09/28/why-women-in-tech-might-consider-just-using-their-initials-online/?cb=logged0.5435418180643885
The phenomenon of the glass ceiling is a well-known one. The number of women elected to high office in the UK seems to argue that the ceiling has been shattered, however, what we may be witnessing is the concept of the glass cliff, a term coined by 2 professors at Exeter University in England. Their research found that women tend to be appointed at times of crisis and are therefore more likely to fail. Studies of Fortune 500 companies confirmed the trend. The question it begs is Janet Yellen’s appointment at the tail end of the great monetary policy experiment another woman at the edge of the cliff? The full article can be found here:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/world/europe/glass-cliff-uk-women-politics.html
Studies have demonstrated that adding women to boards can improve overall corporate performance. A recent article details just what skills women bring to the table that made the difference namely: risk management, human resources, sustainability, politics or government, regulatory or compliance and corporate governance. Certainly skills that every board needs more of – read on:http://www.wsj.com/articles/what-women-add-to-boards-1475460180
The Business Insider detailed a recent Morgan Stanley report that noted the importance of adding diverse companies to a portfolio as a way to reduce overall portfolio volatility. A worthwhile read for all investors: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-gender-diversity-affects-stock-market-returns-2016-10
The next article explores how little gender diversity there is in hedge funds – and one woman who is making her name by producing strong returns by going long companies with diversification and shorting ones without it. The full article can be found here:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/05/business/dealbook/hedge-fund-targets-companies-weakness-the-gender-gap.html
We have some fabulous events lined up for the Fall so please check out the schedule and register soon! We thank you all for your continued support as we continue to grow and look forward to seeing you all soon! Also, don’t forget to join our Facebook page and private LinkedIn Group both of which give you the opportunity to engage with your fellow members online! Please visitwww.txwsw.com to learn more and register for events.