Her Place at the Table

The proportion of women in the workplace is at a historic high, yet leadership roles in major institutions continue to escape them. This is no longer due to “first-generation” gender issues where women were blatantly discriminated against or even harassed. Nor is it a result of women’s disinterest, lack of talent, or failure to ask. Rather, women today face more subtle “second-generation” gender issues that are complex and difficult to address. Barriers such as hyper-scrutiny around leadership appointments, fewer assignments in strategic areas, and corporate culture’s “do whatever it takes, 24/7” ethos all bias against women holding top leadership roles. In Her Place at the Table, Deborah M. Kolb, Judith Williams, and Carol Frohlinger provide the tools for approaching five major challenges as women accept any leadership role.