Rethinking the role of women

Earlier today I had a fascinating conversation with Francine McKenna. We don’t always agree and that’s fine but there is much where we are closely aligned. During the discussion which went on for more than an hour and a half and could easily have gone on another couple of hours, we talked about new business models and the role of women. Or rather the fact women are so poorly represented in C-level positions. How many female partners do you know?

As it happens I am deep into attempting to define a new business model. It isn’t easy when you see massive incumbent players who at best appear dumb, fat and happy and to which customers gleefully pay for play. Francine opened the kimono a little on endeavouring to find a model that works for women. That lead me to this post by Susan Scrupski on Technically Women:

I can assure you, when the planning boards convene to review speaker selections, we are gender blind. We are looking for the best content; the best individuals to fill the agenda. At various times (when it even occurs to me), I myself may bring up the gender issue as I’m sensitive to it. Immediately, my board colleagues respond, “Oh yes, of course, we need more women!” But this process always bothers me, as if women are a special needs category- the Section 8(a) of tech conference planning.

My advice to women who want to be heard: speak up.

Brave words but then it reminded me of a lawyer I engaged many years ago. She was a partner in an all women practice who helped me in a divorce matter. It was refreshing and the best thing I could have done. Not only was she willing to take my case, she fought just as tenaciously as any male lawyer might have done and gave rock solid advice. Like most men I can think of, I was initially sceptical but I was persuaded by her credentials and recommendations I received from others – both men and women.

In the past, it seems to me that most often, women have had to fight, scramble and crawl to make any impression on the male bastions of power but perhaps that can change. As Francine and I were talking, it dawned on me that with technology being what it is today, there is nothing to stop women working out a new business model, one that works for them and which rewards them for ability rather than them having to try grab the coat tails of men. Freely available technology allows women an equal chance to succeed. By definition it will be radical, by which I mean not bound by the ‘rules’ we currently understand. That’s goodness.

But it will require enormous reserves of will and a different kind of strength to pull it off. Just as I am trying to rethink a business model that flies in the face of accepted norms, women will have to do the same. Curiously, I feel aligned to what Francine was saying. We may well be paddling in parallel boats. It’s going to be an interesting ride. So why the headline? That’s easy: playing by the established rules isn’t going to work. If you believe, as I do, that there is an equal role for women in business then it is up to them to define their role. Not men. As Susan says: ’speak up.’

In the meantime, if this is a topic that interests then check out @Tech_Women. It will provide insights into the minds of some of the smartest women I have the pleasure to know.

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Tagged as: Susan Scrupski, Women