women's equality Archives - The Grassy Road

Is 2019 a turning point for women executives?

On International Women's Day today I find myself asking could it be that the momentum is finally building to escape velocity? Escape from a world where the majority of corporate power is held by white men? It feels like it. The new California legislation requiring the boards of companies who have their headquarters in California to have women on their boards may or may not be constitutional but for the first time it is absolutely forcing the conversation. I've been raising this issue for many years now and for the [...]

By Penny Herscher|2019-03-08T15:50:39-08:00March 8, 2019|Equality|Comments Off

It’s time for economic equality for women: WE2

Sometimes it’s just time. I am more deeply convinced now in 2018, than ever before, that the long-term path to a more sane, peaceful world is equality for women in society. The research is conclusive. Investing in girls and women transforms economies, and healthy, growing economies are more peaceful. But I am not a politician, I am not a Sociologist, I am a tech executive and so I need to practice what I know in order to do my part. Women, and men, need to invest in women. Invest in [...]

By Penny Herscher|2018-01-05T22:51:54-08:00January 4, 2018|Equality, Leadership|Comments Off

Hey Mr Waiter! Don’t insult me at the table

Insult can be about blindness as much as it can be overt. Case #1: My husband and I are at a lovely restaurant. The wine list is put in front of him. He hands me the wine list, I chose a wine, and I tell the waiter when he comes. The waiter returns with the unopened wine, opens it and asks my husband if he wants to taste it. Bret has seen this movie before. He usually smiles at the waiter and says "My wife ordered the wine, if you [...]

By Penny Herscher|2017-12-12T18:41:49-08:00February 18, 2014|Equality|0 Comments

Women do it Better than Men — Zenger Folkman

The evidence would say so, but perception would differ. I read the new survey by Zenger Folkman "Women do it Better than Men", as featured in the Harvard Business Review last week, covering the differences in leadership between men and women this morning with a heavy heart... The good news is that in 12 of the 16 categories women were ranked higher than men by their peers, their bosses and by their direct reports. And not only on the traditional softer areas like nurturing. "Specifically, at all levels, women are [...]

By Penny Herscher|2017-12-03T02:44:37-08:00March 19, 2012|Equality|2 Comments

Girls and 1000 tech jobs in Nashville

We have a real problem with jobs in tech. We have more jobs than qualified people.This is not in the news today because for much of the US population there are not enough jobs. Not enough jobs that people are trained for. And yet in Silicon Valley we have 1 tech position open for every 2 that are filled. Hiring great technical staff is tough and increasingly expensive.But this is not just a California problem. At the Nashville Technology Council’s annual meeting last week the theme was Diversity – and [...]

By Penny Herscher|2017-12-06T17:01:10-08:00February 3, 2012|Equality|1 Comment

Techcrunch, Penelope Trunk and the damaging stereotype in pursuit of traffic

When someone takes a strong, clearly personal position and claims it is the majority is it journalism, controversy for it's own sake or an unprincipled pursuit of traffic?Penelope Trunk's recent blog Stop Telling Women To Do Startups is one such example that begs the question. With statements like :"Here’s a post by Tara Brown wondering why women don’t comment on VC blogs. Here’s the answer: Because women don’t care." We don't? All of us? Are you sure? Maybe we are just very focused in the use of our time as [...]

By Penny Herscher|2017-12-03T02:44:38-08:00December 12, 2011|Equality|2 Comments