I've long suspected that there's something special about women leaders and the heart and soul they bring to an organisation.  It's different to the stereotypical leadership model; rather that just dollars and cents, I've noticed that many women directors and executives bring a strong sense of values to a business.  Now new research from Catalyst and Harvard Business School shows there is in fact something different about organisations that have more women leaders: they also have higher levels of corporate philanthropy that the authors translate as better corporate social responsibility. Read More

Australian businesswomen Gail Kelly, CEO of Westpac Group (Number 12) and Gina Reinhart, CEO of Hancock Prospecting (number 27) have made it onto the 2011 Financial Times Women At The Top list - alongside other leaders of enterprise from across the Globe.  The list is somewhat of a United Nations of business - with the top spot this year going to USA's Irene Rosenfeld, CEO of Kraft Foods, followed by Turkey's Gula Sabanci, CEO of Sabanci Holding and India's Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. Read More

For the third year running, the 20-first Global Gender Balance Scorecard looks at a single measure of progress: the gender balance of the Executive Committe of the TOP 100 companies in three key regions of the globe to determine who and were the most progress is being made.  The results? Change is happening; and USA is leading the way. Read More

Every week I receive literally dozens of links on recommended reading, article alerts and just plain old emails from readers like you pointing out something you've liked - which is great because it makes a little easier and a LOT more interesting!  I thought I'd start sharing some of my favorites each week, which I don't have time to cover in detailed articles but which are certainly worth a read.  Like these ones: Read More

I have a question:  if people really are the greatest asset in any business (as many would say), why is it that HR professionals are paid less than those who manage the financial, property and operational assets of almost any business? Why do the so-called "soft skills" and "support roles" harbor less pay, promotional prospects and prestige than the functional and “line” roles, and does it have anything to do with the former being mostly held by women?  Read More

This article by Nellie Akalp tells us what we already know about women entrepreurs: they are thriving in the new economy and this is why: Read More

“It seems that "having it all" - or, if you prefer, "doing it all" - is no longer a question of "can she?" or "can't she?". It is a fact of life”, says Rachel Hills in her weekend article in Sunday Life on The Superwoman Myth.  Hot on the heels of Sarah-Jessica Parker’s new movie I Don’t Know How She Does It, Rachel allowed me to weigh in on the debate: do women want it all? My response?  Read More

Fifteen of Australia’s top CEOs have produced a business letter outlining their experiences in elevating the representation of women in leadership, stimulating thought and discussion on the issue.  What is unusual of the report though – and what we’ve come to expect from the gender balance debate – is the absence of women contributors.  Instead, the report launched in Sydney last week by The Governor General, Quentin Bryce, features insights from an all-male “Champions of Change” group.   Read More

For the first time in history, Australia's Monarch Queen Elizabeth II will be greeted here by a female Prime Minister and a female Governor General at a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting that will have a special focus on women in leadership roles, and a discussion on British plans to change the royal succession laws to allow first-born girls to reign.  Read More

It could be just my interpretation, but I loath the term “mother guilt”.  It seems to me that labels like this do nothing to support the self-confidence of mothers – and it’s certainly not a draw card for career-minded women deciding whether and when to embark on parenting. Read More