Where will executive women be in 2020?
What are the drivers for future change?
In the next few posts I'm going to explore some of the Social, Technology, Economic, Environmental, Political and Personal Values trends we see today as potential predictors of our future path
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Social: Demographic Trends
ReplyDeleteSuccessive generations and changing values are changing the way we view our working lives. Baby boomers (born between 1944 and 1964) were the first generation to break with tradition, and no longer expect to stay with one employer for life. Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980)is most interested in work-life balance. These generations represent today's executives, and these motivators are driving more frequent job switching and entrepreneurism. Executives are less willing now to put long hours into the job unless they are in the driving seat.
Technology Trends
ReplyDeleteWireless technology is revolutionizing the way that we work - it's no longer necessary to be in the office to remain constantly in touch. The Blackberry even has President Barack Obama's endorsement. PDAs have freed us to be able to work wherever we are, from the weight of laptop computers and the shackles of modem cables (remember those?)
Political Trends:
ReplyDeleteCalifornia is notorious (to employers) for its stringent labor laws. If you are an overtime-eligible employee, the law supports work life balance as the system discourages employers from requiring employees to work overtime. However if you are overtime exempt, there's no disincentive to an employer asking you to put in long hours. But turning this on its head, as long as the senior employee is working for even part of a day (as little as one hour), by state law that counts as a work day, not vacation. Do we have the courage to balance our long working days with the occasional short one, as the law intends?
Economic trends:
ReplyDeleteIs it more difficult for women to win venture funding than for men? Anecdotal evidence from all-woman teams seeking funding would seem to bear that out, but what is your experience?
What proportion of VC's are women? And what are the success rates for men and women in obtaining both capital and loans?