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March is Women’s History Month, the theme is empowerment through education. As I started to consider what I knew about the role of women leaders throughout history, I decided to come up with a list of 75 inspirational female leaders through time, some of these are for fun others are truly admirable women …. Some I knew of, others I got to know while researching this list – ALL are fascinating and brave who have contributed to our history.

Please share this list with your friends, sisters and daughters – and come up with one of your own, the more we know about women, the more we are empowered with “her-story”.

1. The women in my family who emigrated from Cuba with nothing, and managed our family in exile
2. Asmaa Mahfouz (1987 – ) Egyptian activist, founder of the April 6 Youth Movement
3. Sheryl Sandberg (1971 – )
4. Arianna Huffington (1950 – )
5. Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice, Supreme Court (1954 – )
6. Zaha Hadid, First Woman to Win a Pritzker Prize (1950 – )
7. Michelle Bachelet (1951 – ) Ms. Michelle Bachelet Under-Secretary-General Executive Director of UN Women, former President of Chile  

1. Angela Merkel (1954 – ) Chancellor of Germany
2. Kazuyo Sejima (1956 – ) SANAA Japanese architect 
3. Wangari Maathai (1940 – 2011) Founder of Green Belt Movement and 2004 Nobel Peace prize
4. Hillary Clinton (1947 – ) US Secretary of State, former First Lady
5. Madeleine Albright (1937 – ) Former US Secretary of State, first woman.
6. Isabel Ayende (1942 – )
7. Benazir Bhutto (1953 – 2007)
8. Mother Theresa (1910 – 1997)
9. Margarret Thatcher (1925 – )
10. Gloria Steinem (1934 – )
11. Sirivamo Bandaranaike (1916-2000) Sri-Lanka, First elected woman prime minister
12. Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers (U.F.W.) (1930
13. Antonia Coello Novello first Latina Surgeon General of the United States.
14. Julia Child (1912 – 2004)
15. Princess Diana (1960 – 1997)
16. Margaret Mead (1901 – 1979)
17. Rosa Parks (1913 – 2005)
18. Indira Gandhi Prime Minister of India (1917 – 1984)
19. Golda Meir (1898 -1978)
    
20. Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, USNR  (1906 – 1992) Computer pioneer
21. Frida Kahlo (1907 – 1954)
22. Gertrude Stein (1874 – 1946)  
23. Valentina Tereshkova (1937 – ) Cosmonaut, first woman in space
24. Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937?) 
25. Florence Nightingale (1820 – 1910) 
26. Juliette Gordon Low (1860 – 19270 Founder of the Girl Scouts 
27. Marie LaVeau (1801 – 1881) Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and famous herbalist.
28. Harriet Tubman (1822-1913)
29. Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 – 1896) 
30. Pocahontas (1594 0 1615) 
31. Joan of Arc  (1412 – 1431)
32. Madame Curie (1867 – 1934) The Nobel Prize in Physics 1903
33. Wilma Mankiller  (1945 – ) First woman to lead the Cherokee Nation
34. Susan B. Anthony (1820 – 1906)
35. Clara Barton (1821-1912) Founder of the Red Cross
36. Frances Perkins (1882-1965) First woman member of the presidential Cabinet 
37. Mary Lyon (1797-1849) Founder of Mt. Holyoke College, first college for women in the US
38. Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1651 – 1695) Mexican poet, writer
39. Anne Bonny (1698-1782) Female pirate 
40. Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793)
41. Isabella I of Castile Queen of Spain (1451 – 1504)
42. Queen Victoria (1837 – 1901)
43. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122 - 1204)
44. Elizabeth I Queen of England (1533 – 1603)
45. Queen Sukda of Mandara (Cameroon) (Around 1500)
46. Regent Dowager Empress Eleni of Ethiopia (1507-1516)
47. Governor Sayyida al-Hurra of Tetouán (Morocco) (1510-1552 )
48. Maria Theresa of Hapsburg (1717-1780) Empress of Austria
49. Queen Regnant Anacaona of the Maguana (early 1500) Taino Tribe Hispanola
50. Catherine the Great Empress of Russia (1729 – 1796)
51. Verónica I of Matamba ruler of Ndongoand Matamba (1681-1721)
52. Lady Isabel Xipaguazin Moctezuma of Tacuba (1525-1550) Mexico
53. Regent Dowager Duchess Chiara Giorgio of Athenai (1451- 1454) Greece
54. Female King Atotoztli of Tenochtitlán (1466-1472) Mexico
55. Princess Regnant Bigum Hatun of Qara Quyünlü (1435-67) Iran/Iraq 
56. Governor Lucrezia Borgia of Spoleto and Foligno (1480 – 1519) Italy
57. Queen Regnant Paccha of Quito (Cara) (1487-1488)  (Ecuador)
58. Empress Theodora  (500 – 548)
59. Wu Zetian (690 – 705)
60. Cleopatra (69 – 30 BC)
61. Makeda, Queen of Sheba (10th century B.C.)
62. Chieftainess Sharifa Fatima of the Zaydi (Yemen) (1450-1500)
63. Taoist Priest Empress Zhang in China (1493 – )
    
64. Empress Liu (Wu) (318–349)
65. Kubaba (only queen on the Sumerian King List) (2500-2330 BC)
66. Sapho (580 – 570)
67. Esther from the bible
68. Deborah was one of the Judges of Israel

Do you know another woman leader that I didn’t mention? please let me know in the comment section.

Parlodel

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Civility in America should be an inalienable right. Americans have a right to defend their names and explain their actions and opinions, but the increasing unruliness in the public square is worrisome and demands attention and new solutions.
~ Jack Leslie, Chairman of Weber Shandwick

This time of year tends to bring out the best and worst in all of us, we are constantly reminded to do good throughout the holiday season, starting with Thanksgiving and ending somewhere around New Year’s Day. These holidays remind us that we are ALL humans, sharing this little planet we call earth.  

However, lately I have noted a disturbing trend of incivility, at the workplace and everywhere. Sometimes, the consequences of these acts culminates in injury and the loss of life, as we have witnessed during Black Friday’s most popularized incidents of pepper-spray and blood in the shopping aisles. These type of incidents where not isolated, and in fact there are reports of this happening from coast to coast, one of the worst was in a mall parking lot near Atlanta, GA where two men got into a parking spot altercation and one shot the other dead. 

Click here to view the embedded video.

Watching this video makes me think of how sharks react during a feeding frenzy.

In fact, according to the study “Civility in America 2011″ conducted by KRC Research, most Americans report they have been victims of incivility (86%). Their most common encounters with rude or disrespectful behavior come while driving (72%) or shopping (65%).

The study also reveals that Americans admit to perpetrating incivility — approximately six in 10 (59%) Americans acknowledge that they themselves have been uncivil.

It’s not only in the shopping mall, but also in professional exchanges that I have noticed ruder language and uncivil behaviors, on occasion leading to violence. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) defines incivility as “seemingly inconsequential inconsiderate words and deeds that violate conventional workplace conduct.” The study found that 86% of Americans report they have been victims of incivility. The same survey also found that over a third of the respondents believe incivility in the workplace is on the rise.

I have also heard from jobseekers who are experiencing a tremendous amount of incivility from recruiters and employers alike – and it’s not just the unanswered phone calls and questions, it’s just plain rude responses, with a total lack of compassion. Often times people mask their rude behavior by saying something like “it’s my honest opinion” “I’m going to give it to you straight” etc.

Incivility can come from co-workers or the public sector, in the 2009 Institute of Education Science (IES) School Principal Survey on Crime and Safety, approximately 11% of school principals reported that students were verbally abusive to their middle and high school teachers.

The cost of rudeness and incivility

In the 2009 book The Cost of Bad Behavior: How Incivility Is Damaging Your Business and What To Do About It, my former Thunderbird Professor Christine Pearson and Christine Porath say that the problem of incivility in the workplace has been compounded by our increasing tolerance of nasty behavior as a culture.

Surveys by researchers Porath and Erez, indicate that in the workforce, after experiencing rudeness most people lose time and focus, work less and slack off more, and think more about leaving the organization. In addition, 94% of people get even with the rude person or with their organization (88%). 

Does this have a deeper meaning?

The latest scientific research backs up with detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms what June Cleaver (and we) always knew intuitively, that through adolescence, the human brain is molded by the social environment in which a child is reared. A disrespectful, stressful social environment is a neurotoxin for the brain and psyche, and the scars are permanent.
~ Dr. Douglas Fields Neurobiologist; Author, The Other Brain

 

1. Are common courtesy civility, manners, and politeness a thing of the past?
2. Are Americans becoming ruder as the economy is spiraling downward?
3. What happened to our society?

According to Neurologist Dr. Douglas Fields – people (and animals) living together in large numbers must develop strict formalized behaviors governing interactions between all individuals in the group, or there will be strife and chaos. …. “The formal “Yes, Sir, Yes, Ma’am,” is not a showy embellishment in the military; strict respect and formal polite discourse are the hub of the wheel in any effective and cohesive social structure. Stress is a neurotoxin, especially during development of a child’s brain.

During the last 2 years I have traveled extensively, and I am always “shocked” when I encounter a polite culture – it would seem that even the French are far more civil and polite than we are. But it wasn’t always like this, when I was in school we where taught manners and etiquette at a young age, and respect for adults – this is unheard of today – so I hold little hope for the pendulum to swing back any time soon.

So what’s the answer?

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime. ~ Mark Twain

Even though our “society” is becoming ruder, I am trying to stay on track leading with kindness, consideration and respect in business – OK, I don’t always succeed. Not only does this feel right to me, and is in line with my core values, but I believe that people who demonstrate decency and kindness have better relationships. In the end, the kind person wins over the people who have a continual “attitude”. 

When people are consistently rude, it’s important to call them out on it. If it entails common courtesy, it’s usually best to deal with it one on one, but if it involves actions potentially perceived as bullying or harassment, it’s a good idea to get human resources, involved.

Take a moment, smile and be kind – it NEVER hurts. 

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Don’t get a “job”, create a life and career you love – why not?

I’ve done a lot of complaining here, but of all the things I’ve complained about, I can’t complain about my life…….. And all this time I’ve been paid to say what is on my mind on television, you don’t get any luckier in life than that.
~ Andy Rooney

One of the things that struck me during the coverage of Andy Rooney’s life and passing, was his resolute claim that he did what he loved professionally for 70 years – and in fact he did it right up to his passing at the age of 92. Some would say that he was one of the privileged few, but I say why not do something you love to do professionally? why shouldn’t we all do what we love?

Living your life’s passion can not only be extremely rewarding but can lead to prosperity. Interestingly, most creative professionals that I know, will tell you that they do what they love – why can’t this be true for everyone?

Watch Gary Vaynerchuk’s funny and inspiring video. Gary is a 35 year old New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author and a self-trained wine and social media expert, and the founder of Winelibrary.com.

Gary Vaynerchuk: Do what you love (no excuses!) TED Talk

Click here to view the embedded video.

Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
~ Wayne Dyer

Have you asked yourself:  What do you love to do? What do you care about? What sparks you? Find your niche, whether it’s working for a non-profit or becoming an entrepreneur creating a company based on your passion?

1. Is there something you already love doing, a hobby? 
2. Care about your self first – figure out what you love and then do it.
3. Study the market carefully and you will find opportunities. Consider conducting a market survey with potential customers to uncover untapped needs, position yourself to succeed

I am not suggesting that you leave your great paying job tomorrow …. but really think about it, plan it and pursue it. Start in small steps, and work on pursuing your passion after you leave the job you are lukewarm about.

Here are 3 stories of people I know who are pursuing their passions:

People might tell you, you can’t do it, you will starve – well I am here to tell you that you can! Here are 3 stories, of people that I personally know, who are making a go at it in 3 very different ways.

• Molly Butler, someone I know in Atlanta was just laid off – she actually enjoyed her full-time job, but her true love is pets. This past year she started Wag & Purr, a pet sitting services she was growing on the side. Now, it’s a no brainer, the passion she had as a side business will most certainly grow and provide her a great income – because she loves it. 

• I have a friend who has been a writer his entire career – he has written for major publications, the news – you name it. But recently he started working on writing a book about 2 of his great loves – Sports and cooking.  There is no doubt in my mind that this venture will be successful, because his passion makes him a credible source, that and the fact that there are so few cookbooks geared to men. 

• Rob Mazze was a well respected Executive at a large New York advertising agency, who got laid off less than 2 years ago. When that happened, he went through a period of introspection about WHAT to do next, and decided to follow his passion for yoga, (which he regularly practiced for 20 yrs.). He enrolled in the teacher training program at Yoga to the People and is now registered as an instructor by the Yoga Alliance. Keep in mind that he went from a highly paid executive job to being a student and re-building his career and income. In a very short time he has built a private clientele as well as regularly instructing at several studios. I have no doubt that his business will grow, and if he chooses he will soon be running his own studio.  

These are just a few of the stories I know personally, you get the idea …. define yourself by your passion, build your business based on that definition and you will have an instant brand for yourself and your business, and that is something that potential customers are naturally drawn to.

Passion is important, especially in your work life since we spend an average of 8270 hours a year at work – and I will tell you that entrepreneurs typically spend much more than that. Be in control of your own future and create the opportunities to do what you love!

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You cannot solve a problem from the same consciousness that created it. You must learn to see the world anew.
~ Albert Einstein

Occupy your mind – Attracting and creating opportunity

The global “Occupy” movement has been on my mind a great deal lately, it disturbs me to the core, I understand the anger – at times, I am angry too. I am not a liberal, conservative, communist, a tea partier or a socialist, now that we got that out of the way – my feelings, hopes and dreams about this country, simply do not fit into any of those little categories. Like the occupiers, I want a renewed democracy, prosperity, and to restore “The American Dream” to it’s rightful glory.

I do not resent wealth or wealthy individuals – I like money! What I resent, and in fact detest, are those individuals and institutions who have set about to kill the dream, and the dishonest means by which wealth has been achieved and rewarded in this country, and those that made “Greed is Good” a mantra for Wall Street ……. But, I am not choosing to occupy Wall Street – instead, I choose to focus my energies on creating my own wealth …. doing so ethically and honestly, as an example to others, and supporting those who will pursue the same. 

It’s a sad commentary that the general public is actually better versed in Kim and Kourtney Kardashian’s antics than our nation’s politics ….. that has got to change …. perhaps that will be one of the things that the “Occupy” movement will achieve. But it’s time to focus the “Occupy” tactics on what is sorely needed – jobs that pay a decent wage, and hope for those who have been struggling. 

I support the intent of the “Occupy” movement because…..

1. The “Occupy”  movement is a wake up call to American business.
2. It is an escape valve for those who have had to endure this crisis on their backs.
3. Protesting is a way to generate change – we need it in order to save the middle class. 
4. It is our right as guaranteed in the Bill of rights – which includes the phrase “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

A Humanitarian Mission to the ”Occupy” movement

I have a dear friend, Maria Caso, who is a certified Life Coach and grief recovery specialist. She went to the occupy Wall Street encampment together with a number of other Coaches, in the camp they set up a table, and spent an entire weekend offering advice and coaching. They considered this a humanitarian mission – offering their expertise and knowledge for free. She told me that besides the incredible stench (this was in the heat of September) the one thing that struck her was the palpable lack of hope. This lack of hope, is something that will remain in our country’s psyche for a long time …..  

Why aren’t employers coming to the movement to get people back to work?

If I where a business owner, I would take this opportunity to go down to those “Occupy”  encampments and get people back to work, you might find the next innovator for your company right there. The occupiers are obviously thinking differently, and that is exactly what American businesses need right now – people who will think in new ways.

At least one company is trying to do something of significance to get people back to work, starting November 1, the Starbucks Foundation, is teaming up to initially fund the “Create Jobs for USA program”. The purpose will be to provide loans to under-served community businesses, including small businesses, micro-enterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing. 

How do we challenge other employers and lending institutions to get down to those encampments and get people back to work? …… I see this as an opportunity, that is being missed – but why? I would like to know the answers to these questions…. and I would like to see the energy of the “Occupy” movement spent on attracting and creating opportunity, and hope that the protest is the beginning of the process of change.

Besides creating good jobs, the “Occupy” movement has the groundswell and momentum to create a platform where to engage big business – starting perhaps with a manifesto of ethics and standards. The time is now, there is an opportunity to create a place to initiate the dialogue that will lead to the changes that the world wants to see.

The “Occupy” movement will be on our minds for a long time. But will camping in a park in unsanitary conditions indefinitely, with no real actionable agenda, help the movement achieve it’s goals? At the very least, I hope that the “Occupy” movement will spark the dialogue and action that is necessary to ignite the changes that will get people back to work! 

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When you are looking for a job, it’s important to remember that doing what you have always done is just not enough. Think it through, and then take action. After all, that’s what your employer will want you to do when you accept the job anyway.
~ Priscilla Claman, President of Career Strategies, Inc.,

OK I admit it, I don’t like looking for a job – does anybody really????

I thought getting an EMBA would be on of the most challenging things I would ever do, well it would take second place to the arduous labor involved in finding a full time job, while career slashing. In fact, my current job search involves some of the hardest work I have ever done.

People, if you know someone who is looking for a job – give them some applause, and a BIG hug …. really, they deserve it!!!

The topic of unemployment, jobs and the economy is inescapable, the subject predominates every news medium and permeates conversations – to tune it out is hopeless unless you really isolate yourself, and that’s the last thing you want to do….. add to that the plethora of job search advice, columns, articles and opinions – it’s really too much! 

Take a deep breath,

here are some tips and advice that have worked for me,

maybe they will work for you too.

Stay positive and focused – not so easy, but essential!

The MOST IMPORTANT thing you need to do is stay positive and focused. Job searching is difficult, and there are times when you will be discouraged. Sometimes …… I fantasize about being curled up on the coach eating cheettos in my PJs, watching a comforting Lifetime movie (cue music), instead of slugging away at finding a job, but instead opt for a focused and positive attitude, this is absolutely essential in order to get an interview and a job.

You must communicate:

• High energy
• Enthusiasm
• Positive attitude

No one is going to give a second look at someone who does not communicate all of these things. So really think about this in every communication that you put out there; writing, phone, personal interview, body language, make sure you…….do it!

My “Work”

I have devised a “work plan” much like a project plan, while it’s really nothing new or revolutionary, it is very helpful. When I started “the great job quest of 2011″, it was completely overwhelming – I had never had to pay much attention to a resume/CV or a job search, because during my career, most of my work had come from word of mouth referrals from my network. But I am now on a slightly different career track, and the job search has changed significantly in the last 24 months – and I acknowledge that it’s going to take all of my resources, intellect and energy to get my dream career opportunity - but it is one of the best investments I can make in myself.

Here are some ideas of how to go about the work of getting a job

• Everyday “go to work”…..because getting a job is your job for now. 
• Find a quiet comfortable space, like the local library – not a coffee shop.
• Break down the week into several “objectives” - search, network, connect, follow-up. 
• Search for job openings that are a good match, discard those that are not.
• Search LinkedIn and close personal network for connections to decision makers that can help with job openings.
• Research companies that are consistent with your core values and direction.
• Make calls to your network, persons in your industry and recruiters.
• Email recruiters with news, updates, send resume and follow up.
• Schedule 15 – 30 minute  “informational” or “scoping” calls.
• 30 minute with your career or life coach - keeps you track and accountable.

Ask for help – seek out advice from professionals

You would be amazed at how generous people are with their professional advice. Recently career coach Susan Goldberg, Susan Goldberg Executive Search Consulting, was kind enough to speak to me for 30 minutes and give me some amazing perspective regarding my own job search, here is some of her advice.

5 Tips to Follow (if you are truly serious about your job search).

1. Never waste your time sending an email or resume unless you have a specific individual to send it to, otherwise follow-up is next to impossible. 
2. Don’t bother sending a resume or an email unless you plan on following it up with a phone-call. Otherwise, it indicates that you are not interested. 
3. Be remembered after an informational interview, be gracious, offer to help the person who is meeting with you and make the offer as specific as possible.
4. Always leave an informational interview with other names to contact.  Ask at the end of a meeting, for specific people to contact so that you can further expand your network, be ready.
5. Never leave an interview without knowing what the next steps of the hiring process will be. It will keep some of the control of the hiring process in your hands and the asking itself will make you feel more confident and self-assured in leaving what can be an anxiety provoking experience.  (If you haven’t been told what next steps are to be taken, ask.  

Focus, re-evaluate, re-group = tweak, tweak, tweak 

Take jobseekers who send out hundreds, sometimes thousands of resumes, and never get any results. In any other context this would merit a change in approach, but they just keep sending out more resumes. This tough job market makes it even more important to stop the mindless application-mailing and analyze what isn’t working – because the problem might be devastatingly simple.
~ Priscilla Claman President of Career Strategies, Inc.

During the last 4 months I have redone my resume at least 6 times – and these tweaks involve heavy thinking and introspection on my part. I have been lucky to have had lot’s of help along the way, ask your friends and network for help – sometimes it’s hard to remember your accomplishments.  

Try using the STAR Key Achievements as a guideline.

• Situation, describe the situation
• Task or Target, what were the initial targets, goals or objectives
• Action, what you did to achieve that target
• Result, what were the results using specifics and measurements (if possible, otherwise rounds numbers or percentages)

And finally…..

• Be Assertive and Proactive
• Be clear
• Tell everyone in your network about your job search 
• Maintain a detailed record of all the jobs you have applied to, including communications, interviews, referrals, and follow-up actions. 
• Networking should be at the center of your job search strategy
• Get to go out there and make it happen.
• Be clear on what you want and need, you’re on your way to getting it.
• Be kind to yourself … it takes time and dedication to find the right fit.

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Entrepreneurs are arguably the most important actors in our economy—the creators of new wealth and new jobs, the inventors of new products and services, and the revolutionizers of society and the economy
~ Lesa Mitchell, VP of advancing innovation at the Kauffman Foundation.

I have been reading a great deal recently on how small business and entrepreneurship is the potential savior of our US economy. Economist will agree that older established companies DO NOT hold the promise of job creation or a renewed and revived economy, but instead the next bright new companies.

Venture capitalist will tell you that EVERYONE is on the lookout for the next “Gazelle” or fast growing start-up with the potential of becoming the next Google or Apple. But in between the “Giants” and the “Gazelles”, lies a whole territory of smaller companies that also help to fuel the economy not only by job creation but by private wealth creation, smaller companies from yoga studios to e-commerce web portals.

How important is entrepreneurship to the US economy?

This is where the jobs are, not at General Motors. It is about creating new companies, new industries, not propping up behemoths
~ John Harthorne, a co-founder of MassChallenge

The US Government has identified entrepreneurs as an important key to turning the economy around, and in January of this year The White House helped launch the Startup America Partnership. This is an independent, private-sector entity partnership between the US Government and private equity. The US Government is committed to matching funds in this venture to encourage the creation of new startups, with a principal focus on supporting existing firms who could become “Gazelles”.

How do Women entrepreneurs stack up?

As the chart above from the Kaufman Foundation indicates, not so great. In fact, American Express OPEN report for 2011 found that just 1.8 percent of women-owned firms had revenues of more than $1 million, while men-owned firms was 6.3 percent. 

In the new study by the Kaufman Foundation, OVERCOMING THE GENDER GAP: WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS AS ECONOMIC DRIVERS, has shown that although nearly half of the workforce and more than half of our college students are women, their lag in building high-growth firms has become a major economic deficit.

Facts about women startups:

• Average revenue of men’s firms was $120,000 versus about $60,000 for women. 
• Women owned firms account for 29% of all enterprises.
• Women-owned firms only employ 6% of the country’s workforce and contribute just under 4% of business revenues . 
• WOMEN ONLY account for 35 % of the people who start a businesses.

Estimated that there are over 8.1million women-owned businesses in the US, generating nearly $1 .3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 7 .7 million people – IMAGINE THE UNTAPPED ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS!!! 

We must consider fostering women’s entrepreneurship as an economic issue, not a gender-equity based issue. Simply put – we are missing a BIG chunk of this country’s educated brainpower. 

OK great, but what kind of support is there out there?

Business incubators are service programs, not buildings,” “No building can grow companies, provide mentoring and handholding, and assist an emerging company in meeting the benchmarks necessary for growth.
~ Dinah Adkins, president and CEO of the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA). 

Besides the SBA and the Startup America Partnership, consider joining an incubator or accelerator program in your area, according to Bloomberg Businessweek there are about 50 accelerators altogether seeking more than 500 startups for their programs this year, and surprisingly not all of these are for the tech sector.  Studies show that start-up ventures that graduate from an incubation or accelerator program have a success rate of 87%, compared to 44% for all other firms. 

Here are 20 incubators and accelerator programs in the US. This list is in no particular order or ranking. In order to figure out the best fit, do your research and talk to to people about their experiences during the program and ask for success, funding figures for the overall program and finally what will their stake be in your company and how will they help you with management.

1. Astia, Astia offers programs for women run high-growth start-ups.
2. Women 2.0 – Pitch, not a traditional incubator.
3. West Enterprise Center, Albuquerque, N.M.
4. Mi Kitchen es su Kitchen,  New York, N.Y. focused on food businesses.
5. DreamIt Ventures, Philadelphia, PA
6. Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center, Atlanta, GA
7. Launch Pad Ignition, New Orleans, LA
8. SENO – Social entrepreneurship, New Orleans, LA
9. TechStars, accelerators (Boston, Boulder, New York City, and Seattle )
10. MassChallenge, Boston, MA
11.  Y Combinator, Silicon Valley, CA
12. NYC SeedStart, New York, NY
13. Santa Fe Business Incubator, Santa Fe, NM
14. Accelerator Corp., Seattle, WA – biotech startups
15. Long Island High Technology Incubator, Stony Brook, NY
16. The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center - Florence, AL
17. Innovation Depot, Birmingham, AL
18. LaunchBox Digital, Washington, DC
19. Metro Tech, Oklahoma City, OK For Latino entrepreneurs.
20. Plug and Play Tech Center, Sunnyvale, CA 

These incubator and accelerators are the promise of growing new businesses, as traditional Venture Capital is becoming scarcer. Consider that there were fewer initial public offerings of firms backed by venture capitalists than in any year since 1985, and that the proportion of IPOs worth less than $50m has plunged to 20% in the past decade. This matters, because according to the National Venture Capital Association over 90% of job creation by venture-backed firms occurs after they go public. 

With few answers on how to turn this economic mess around, we must consider how to foster the entrepreneurial sector, specifically the untapped economics of women entrepreneurs. 

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Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking that you have something to lose ~ Steve Jobs

In tribute of Steve Jobs, I wanted to highlight one of my all time favorite videos of Steve Jobs, where he urges graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks — including death itself.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Transcript of Steve Jobs’ inspirational commencement address:
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2005/june15/jobs-061505.html

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“We’re looking at a different paradigm of leadership, and it plays naturally to the strengths of women…… The tide has turned. The leadership skills that come naturally to women are now absolutely necessary for companies to continue to thrive.” Regina Sacha, Vice President of Human Resources for FedEx Custom Critical.

What I have learned (and haven’t) about female leadership

As a recent MBA graduate, I can confirm that today – leadership is still taught (almost) exclusively from a male perspective, and most case studies presented in Business schools, are based on male leadership styles.

During our Leadership Development course at Thunderbird, our Professor, Christine Pearson, Ph.D.(a brilliant woman and renown authority), presented the following:

• Sun Tzu “The Art of War”
• Niccolò Machiavelli “The Prince” and
• Jack Welch.

Don’t get me wrong, I respect the insights and knowledge from each, and have a better understanding of male leadership from studying them. We were supposed to be reflecting upon leadership and what makes one a great leader, but to my surprise NOT ONE WOMAN was presented! I know the value of understanding male leadership BUT I aspire to be the BEST FEMALE leader possible. I don’t pee standing up and I don’t have testosterone coursing through my veins – I have breasts and I like to wear a skirt, so I don’t want to lead like a man, thank you very much!

When I questioned Professor Pearson, she challenged me to compile my own list of women leaders. I accepted and put together a list of exemplary women leaders who led like WOMEN, below are a few…. and there are many more. But, why don’t we study their leadership? Why should we study Sun Tzu over the leadership of Eleanor of Aquitaine?

• Eve, the first woman, and first leader, she DID lead Adam to that apple!
• Miriam (Old Testament), she was one of the leaders of the Exodus from Egypt.
• Queen Cleopatra VII, perhaps the world’s cleverest political strategist.
• Empress Wu Zetian, considered one of the most powerful women in Chinese history
• Eleanor of Aquitaine (the original cougar) the wealthiest and most powerful woman in the world during the High Middle Ages
• Isabella of Spain, sponsored Columbus and the discovery of the Americas.
• Coco Chanel, fashion revolutionary founded the Channel empire.
• Indira Ghandi, changed the history of modern Indian.
• Mother Teresa
• Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and UN Women Executive Director

There is a growing appreciation of… those traits that women use to keep families together and to organize volunteers to unite and make change in the shared life of communities. These newly admired leadership qualities of shared leadership; nurturance and doing good for others are today not only sought but also indeed needed to make a difference in the world…. A feminine way of leading includes helping the world understand and be principled about values that really matter. Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, The World YWCA Secretary General.

Unique qualities of female leadership

According to a study by Caliper, and Aurora (London-based organization that advances women), there are 4 major qualities that dominate female leadership, and that differ from the male qualities of leadership.

1. More persuasive than their male counterparts.
2. Learn from adversity and carry on with an “I’ll show you attitude”.
3. Demonstrate an inclusive, collaborative leadership style of problem solving and decision making.
4. A willingness to reinvent the rules, and are less risk averse.

“I believe this study shows that for a woman to become a leader today, she has to fight harder against the status quo, which requires her to be more focused and determined.” Mara Swan, Chief People Officer for Molson Coors

Why are women NOT making it to the top?

And the problem is this: women are not making it to the top of any profession anywhere in the world. The numbers tell the story quite clearly. 190 heads of state — nine are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, 13 percent are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top, C-level jobs, board seats — tops out at 15, 16 percent. The numbers have not moved since 2002 and are going in the wrong direction. Sheryl Sandberg COO of Facebook

Watch this amazing video where Sheryl shares why we have too few women leaders:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Why is this important?

Because our world is changing, and “domination” and “subjugation”, which are typically male leadership traits based on a military mindset, are no longer working. We live in a time, where we are much better served with collaborative, determined and empathetic leadership.

If we are looking forward, either as an individual or an organization, we must consider the value that women leaders bring, not just in the obvious, such as a naturally more evolved EI (Emotional Intelligence), but also how women contribute to the value of the bottom line.

In fact “Women in the Executive Suite, Correlate to High Profits” by Roy D. Adler, Ph.D. Pepperdine University, studied Fortune 500 firms, and found that those with a high number of women executives outperformed their industry median firms on three financial measures. Furthermore, the firms with the very best scores for promoting women were consistently more profitable than those whose scores were merely very good.

And in a McKinsey survey “Moving women to the top: McKinsey Global Survey”, seventy-two percent of respondents believe there is a direct connection between a company’s gender diversity and its financial success. McKinsey, looked at 89 listed companies in Europe with a very high proportion of women in senior management posts and compared their financial performance with the average for firms in the same industry. It found that these firms enjoyed a higher return on equity, fatter operating profits and a more buoyant share price.

I do believe it’s VERY important for women to learn to lead with our strengths, and also that men have a responsibility to learn about female leadership in order to mentor, grow and understand how to support the development of their daughters, subordinates and female colleagues alike.

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“Go home, take a paper bag, cut some eyeholes out of it. Put it over your head, get undressed and look at yourself in the mirror. Really evaluate where your strengths and weaknesses are. And be honest.” Mad Men, Joan Holloway

Sexonomics ?

I am NOT talking about the oldest profession in the world here, (although I am sure that is a profession where there is pay parity for women). I am talking about sexual capital in the workplace, as defined by Catherine Hakim, a professor at the prestigious London School of Economics and author of “Erotic Capital: The Power of Attraction in the Boardroom and the Bedroom”. She explains that “sexonomics” is the sexual allure that people use as a commodity for profit and professional advancement just as they would use education or their network. Hakim explains that the “male sex deficit,” is something that women should leverage often in order to attain career advancement or a wedding ring. 

Sexy in the workplace?

As the pendulum is sure to swing – are we starting to see a time where women will no longer be repressed in the workplace and be able to flaunt their sexuality and femininity without the repercussions of being labeled as “prissy”, “distracting” or worse yet suffer unwanted sexual advances…. I sure hope so!

The TV character  “Joan Harris” on Mad Men – reminds me of the very good lessons that the legendary Ariel Allen, VP Creative Services, Global Advertising at Colgate-Palmolive taught me very early on in my career - Always apply lipstick before and sometimes during a meeting, and touch up your make-up before going to battle in the boardroom.

She was not only brilliant, sharp, fearless and a no bullshit kind of lady, but she was also beautiful, and never missed an opportunity to show the world.  She was completely contrary to what I had learned in college – we where taught that to be non-sexual was important, by not wearing heels or showing cleavage, we could level the playing field and be equal to men (needless to say that spawned a number of very poor wardrobe choices, including wearing those stupid tie things in the 80’s……) 

If I could go back, I would have been bolder and sexier in the workplace and used my looks and youth to get ahead! (my apologies to Gloria Steinem) Especially in light of a recent British report, which states that women will not reach pay equality for 100 years!!!! Ladies, we need every advantage we can get! 

But not every woman would agree with this – there are those feminist like Steinem, that took up the fight to give women the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that guarantees “equal pay” under the law - which to this day still does not exist, AND we work twice as hard for our pay - what’s equal about that? In fact women ONLY make .77 cents to each dollar that men make,and it decreases significantly for minorities.

“The world today is vastly different than it was in 1983, but sadly, one thing that has remained the same is the pay gap between men and women….. If this continues, the only guarantees in life will be death, taxes and the glass ceiling”  US Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York

Should we use our looks in the workplace – Hell Yes!!!!!

Consider these statistics 

• Women’s wages have increased just half a penny on the dollar for the past four decades. 
• Women earn less than men consistently in all industries and occupation groups surveyed by the US Census Bureau.  
• According to the GAO (General Accountability Office) Report GAO-04-35, weekly full time earnings for women where about three-fourths of men in 2011.
• Men with children generally get a pay boost, while women loose earnings.

Consistent with this information is a 2008 study by University of Chicago sociologist Kristen Schilt and NYU economist Matthew Wiswall “Before and After: Gender Transitions, Human Capital, and Workplace Experiences”, people who underwent a sex change –  men who transitioned to women earned, on average, 32% less post surgery, women who became men, earned 1.5% more.

What to do???

I say embrace your inner “Chonga” and get yourself to Banana Republic where you can outfit yourself in fetching 60′s fashions like “Joanie” from Mad Men….. walk into your office, with a beautifully made up face, head held high in a tight dress, push up bra (don’t forget the Spanx) while balancing on your 5 inch leopard stilettos, sashay into your bosses office, lean over his desk and get that promotion or pay raise that your male colleague already has!!!!!

Click here to view the embedded video.

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“That we are responsible for our own fate, we reap what we sow, we get what we give, we pull in what we put out. I know these things for sure” Madonna

My favorite “mistresses” of reinvention is Madonna – SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT HER – HATE HER OR LOVE HER, she has been through more “re-births” physically, creatively, personally and in business than any other public figure I can think of.  

When Madonna came on the scene in the 80’s, she was young, defiant and unconventional, she had fame, fortune and POWER.  She showed the world that she was going to achieve it all – on her own terms, making her own choices. I admired her then, and 3 decades later, I still do. She is a highly diversified business powerhouse and yet still takes risks – from acting, launching ‘Material Girl’ (a new line of clothing with her 14 year old daughter Lourdes), to dating men half her age without any care for public opinion.

She has had much success, a good deal of controversy and a fair amount of public failure too – but she keeps on going. At 53, she CONTINUES TO inspire, including a whole new generation of women. 

“I think that Madonna was a great inspiration for me…. If I had to examine her evolution through time, I think she reinvented her clothing style and music with success every single time. And at the same time remained a real force in entertainment in the whole world.” Rihanna

What can we learn from Madonna about reinvention?

Reinvention is at the core of who Madonna is professionally and personally, one could say it is part of her brand as much as her sexuality.

One of the most important things about reinvention is that your CHANGE should be CONSTANT and WITH PURPOSE. When I say CONSTANT, I mean both huge changes and the constant necessary refinements. And with PURPOSE, don’t make change for the sake of CHANGE – have a purpose in mind, how does the change fit within the final outcome you desire???

• Be accountable for your SUCCESS and FAILURE – TAKE CONTROL OF IT.
• CREATE something new from something old, OBSERVE opportunities, LISTEN, LEARN.
• Live your life with PASSION!!!!
• Take the lessons you LEARN FROM FAILURE and apply them towards success.
• NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR TRYING SOMETHING NEW, (not even to the recruiters who ask you why you deviated from your professional track).
• BE HONEST – WITH YOURSELF about who you are, and what you love to do.
• TAKE RISKS – when you can, and they make sense to you.
• LISTEN to your gut – follow your HEART.
• Know your CORE VALUES, PREFERENCES, INTERESTS – be true to those.
• ASK FOR HELP to make changes and become who YOU want to be.
• The ONLY PERSON YOU CAN COUNT ON TO MAKE CHANGE = YOU.
• BE BOLD AND BE BRAVE, (I’m not suggesting you wear the GAULTIER CONE BRA….. but it did work once)
• NO doesn’t necessarily mean NEVER.
• DO NOT listen to criticisms that are intended to knock you down.
• LISTEN to critiques that help you refine your REINVENTION.
• CREATE FULFILLMENT by FINDING the right fit for your dreams.
• BE FEARLESS

A mantra to start the day, on the road to reinvention 

Nora Roberts – Novelist

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