Woman entrepreneurship

Women are moving up in corporate America, but very slowly! So slowly, it would take 300 years for women to reach parity in business and 500 years in the US Congress. (Cole, 254-279) There has been significant research conducted on why there are so few women in high-ranking leadership positions in corporate America and other countries. Deficiencies in career development, the “glass ceiling”, sexual stereotyping, work-life issues, and lack of mentorship opportunities have been identified as some of the primary reasons there are so few women working as senior managers. (Cole, 254-279)

In this paper, the author discusses how feminine traits are a benefit to an executive manager's repertoire, examine the different international cultural perceptions regarding women as leaders, and offer opinions as to why it has been traditionally difficult for women to achieve senior management positions. (Cole, 254-279)

Numerous research studies have been conducted to determine what makes a person a good leader. Many research conclusions suggest gender differences in leadership are illustrated through traits that appear to be characteristically feminine or masculine. Feminine traits include being empathetic, supportive, nurturing, a good listener and relationship-oriented. Male traits include risk-taking, self-confidence, competitiveness, decisiveness and directness. (Cole, 254-279) Women are stereotypically the caring gender with natural instincts toward motherly behaviors. Women are sensitive, affectionate and kind while men are more dominant and competitive, craving power and control (Mano-Negrin & Sheaffer, 2004).

Regardless of gender, effective leaders typically possess desirable traits, affording them the opportunity to excel at leadership. According to Walker and Avant an effective leader possesses the following traits: good communication skills, supports and motivates others, turns visions into reality, gives direction and stays informed. (Dreher, 541-562) Excellent leadership traits are characteristically seen as positive traits. However, Goffee and Jones (2004) suggest there is one trait normally seen as negative, which is actually quite positive as it applies to leadership—revealing weakness. As a leadership strength, revealing weakness shows a leader's human side (Goffee & Jones, 2004). It is important for leaders to be seen as people and not merely taskmasters to increase relationships and inspire trust.

Keeping a sense of the work environment and showing genuine concern for employees are also important leadership traits (Goffee & Jones, 2004). Other definitions of leadership place emphasis on traits such as team-building. Kotter's definition of leadership suggests a leader needs to foster an atmosphere in which employees work together, especially during periods of difficulty. (Dreher, 541-562) The emphasis by leaders on teamwork and collaboration of their employees has become a highly embraced trait in the twenty-first century. Other significant traits include good listening skills, empowerment of employees to promote self-leadership and the ability to lead in a crisis situation.

Leading Women as Entrepreneur

The study, co-sponsored by the Women Presidents Organization and Entrepreneur magazine, solicited applications from women-led businesses in North America that met the following criteria:

Must be a privately held, woman-led company in the U.S. or Canada.

2002 sales must have been $50,000 or greater.

2006 sales must have been $1 million or greater.

Companies were ranked according to ...