Women and men alike have internalized all the limiting concepts society has imposed on women, their abilities, capabilities, etc. When women try anything, outside of their traditional roles, they get push back from men AND WOMEN, of all ages. I'm working with a male chauvinist 30-year-old man right now who calls me "Mom". But several young women I work with think the same way. I'm shocked at how little has changed since the 1960s, and how intractable the "isms" are in our society.
7
The reference in this story to men 'shaking-off' adversity more quickly than women reminded me of how many times in Sports and in military training participants are encouraged with a 'shake-it-off' or 'hit it and give me 20' -- up your game and move on... Later, when under fire or on gameday, instincts, training and cameraderie kick-in. Gender-neutral fitness and (generally) non-contact team sports, I believe, make an difference in clarity of thinking, overall energy, team orientation, confidence and perspective. One of the greatest experiences I had about 15 years ago was when, at about 50, I joined a co-ed recreational soccer league at my local Y. Men and women both can learn from each other in such situations. I'm proud of my 3 adult kids, two of whom are women and all of whom are great team players.
1
Maybe the consequences of failure are greater for women because they must provide for children. When marriages fail, the majority of women become the sole support of children. Just trying to get a stable job is hard and teaches a person the harshness of the world. Plus, the economy has not exactly been booming for the past thirty years and opportunities are diminishing as large companies with resources monopolize without fear. Most small businesses run by women provide non-essential services and are not examples of capital investment and patent driven innovation. Such companies are too risky to give up a day job.
3
Someone mentioned the psychological difference between men and women which to a great extent I question. Rather than being psychological I feel to a greater degree the difference is more sociological programming. The example I will give is adding insulation to my attic. When I mentioned doing it myself to a few women friends the first response I received was to be careful of falling through the ceiling and they mentioned that their husbands usually did those types of things. In other words women did not "see" this as their roles (societal programming) which supports the thesis of this article. However, once I told them what I did to avoid the risk a good number of them thought it would be something they could attempt.
The same goes for starting my own business. Several colleagues did what they saw others do from societal expectations and failed. I took a more risky alternative approach and 8 years later am thriving. Working for yourself is not for everyone (male or female) but the role that gender expectations plays rather than a purely psychological bent has a great deal to do with your own expectations for yourself. Either way it takes a great deal of personal fortitude to go against the norm and many times your own gender will act as enforcers for norming behavior.
The same goes for starting my own business. Several colleagues did what they saw others do from societal expectations and failed. I took a more risky alternative approach and 8 years later am thriving. Working for yourself is not for everyone (male or female) but the role that gender expectations plays rather than a purely psychological bent has a great deal to do with your own expectations for yourself. Either way it takes a great deal of personal fortitude to go against the norm and many times your own gender will act as enforcers for norming behavior.
7
I prefer working for and by myself, so for me, being a "cottage industry" entrepreneur was the way to go. But like the studies say, I didn't seek outside funding. I didn't think that, as a woman, I would get it, so I didn't even try. I did okay with one business, and with the other, I reaped much in the way of personal satisfaction but I could not have supported myself and my family by myself on my scanty earnings alone. I think that's a large part of the reason why most women don't open their own businesses. Even though it is wonderfully freeing to be one's own boss, to be able to call one's own shots and to take credit for one's own hard work, we need a steady paycheck in order to buy food, pay rent, support our families and live. Even the men I know who are self-employed are married to gainfully-employed women who bring home predictable pay. It's not so much that we, as women, are inherently "risk adverse." It's just that we are homeless-adverse and starvation-adverse, especially when our children are involved.
6
Most people should be working for other people in structured, traditional business environments with clearly defined job tasks and consistent supervision and regular hours required. They should have regular feed back from their employer and ongoing job skills training as well as benefits like health care, family leave, vacation time, unemployment insurance, etc. That's just what is best for most people. Suggesting that anyone can start their own business is like suggesting anyone can be a movie star or a ;professional athlete or come up with the next big internet media platform -- sure, anything in the world is possible, but the odds are miniscule.
I worked free lance for thirty years during which time my husband ran his own small business which involved needing clients and projects so basically free lancing on a bigger scale. let me tell you it's not for everyone. Constantly looking for clients or jobs when most people are doing work they already have is a different game. Having your job performance be basically a life-long i"try out" for your next job -- pressure. Knowing if you don't land that client or that commission you won't be able to pay your employees. The list goes on.
Being an entrepreneur is a great idea for a very teeny percentage of the population who have exceptional talents of various sorts -- creativity, drive, interpersonal skills, a specific special talent, really good business sense, among others. It's not for most people.
I worked free lance for thirty years during which time my husband ran his own small business which involved needing clients and projects so basically free lancing on a bigger scale. let me tell you it's not for everyone. Constantly looking for clients or jobs when most people are doing work they already have is a different game. Having your job performance be basically a life-long i"try out" for your next job -- pressure. Knowing if you don't land that client or that commission you won't be able to pay your employees. The list goes on.
Being an entrepreneur is a great idea for a very teeny percentage of the population who have exceptional talents of various sorts -- creativity, drive, interpersonal skills, a specific special talent, really good business sense, among others. It's not for most people.
8
Women don't see themselves as entrepreneurs because they are much more risk averse than men. Thus, the numbers speak for themselves. This is not a bad thing. When we think of entrepreneurs, we think of successful men. However, the truth is that most attempts at starting a business fail. So for every successful entrepreneur, there are thousands of unsuccessful ones. So ladies, lets not be too hard on ourselves. There's a reason why were more risk averse is that we often have much more to lose!
4
As a woman entrepreneur, I am constantly bewildered by the lack respect exhibited toward me. My successful business, started in 1997, is thriving. I acknowledge that most men, who are 99% of my peers in my field, look past me. Learning how to negotiate around this lack of respect became a necessity for me to produce the quality results my clients contracted me to. Remaining resolute, purposeful, results driven, realizing I will not change others, and working with those contractors who are respectful, these have been my guidelines.
13
Entrepreneurship has been unfortunately gotten a rep for being totally focused on high growth, profits, and the fast exit - to the exclusion of all else. Women I know are more interested in mission, meaning, and making a difference. Yet they often have an abundance of what's needed to succeed as entrepreneurs - hi EQ, multitasking skills, great organizational ability, communication talent, etc. All of this makes social enterprise a perfect solution and a win win for all of us.
6
Several years ago, I requested mentoring help from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), as I was experiencing some difficulty growing my business as a professional clay artist. I wanted an impartial and experienced professional to look at my concerns and, hopefully, make some suggestions for change or improvement. I wasn't given a choice of mentor, and I wound up speaking with two older gentlemen. Despite the fact that my work had increasingly been receiving recognition and was selling well in higher-end markets, I was gravely disappointed to hear these men say that I'd "never be anything more than a hobbyist" and that they were gratified that I was "doing the right thing" by working from home so that I could also be the primary caregiver of my children. Even pressing them for help on specific issues wasn't fruitful.
Entrepreneurs can find it extremely difficult to locate a mentor with whom they align well. But women need to be particularly vigilant about avoiding those who feel that ability and success are predicated on gender.
Entrepreneurs can find it extremely difficult to locate a mentor with whom they align well. But women need to be particularly vigilant about avoiding those who feel that ability and success are predicated on gender.
13
I found much the same thing from a "coach" connected to the local SBA. I am a PR professional with 20+ years of experience and was assigned to a coach who was in marketing. The two fields are not the same, but they are not miles apart. I explained my plan to create an independent consultancy to work with non-profits and, especially, help cultivate those executive directors and founders as thought leaders. The coach kept saying, "I don't see how you can make a business out of this." I went over it again and again, step by step, using the information I found about founding a consultancy and learned from others in the field who'd done the same or similar. I took the SBA short-course on creating a business and did not find this stupidity. At the time, I didn't think of it as sexism. But maybe it was? I figured he was just a dullard who was a one-trick advice giver and knew marketing and only marketing. (There was no PR adviser in the group at that time.) This guy was a failure. But I expected more and the SBA certainly should have expected more. I walked away and did not look back.
5
I think it's mostly the greater difficulty in getting funding. Also, how do you learn to be an entrepreneur without just diving in and doing it? For many years I thought about going out on my own, and there seemed to be no good books on the subject. All they seemed to do is ask you if you have the risk-tolerance required, when what I wanted was more of a how-to. But mostly the lack of funding sources was what gave me pause.
2
Maybe more women have seen through the American Dream. Hard work will not make you rich today.
5
This article ignores the enormous body of psychological research into fundamental differences between the human sexes, which likely have a biological basis, when it comes to personal characteristics such as risk taking, boldness, fearlessness, boredom thresholds, stimulus seeking, aggressiveness, ruthlessness and cruelty.
We know that intelligent psychopaths who do not engage in overt criminal activity tend to be overrepresented as CEOs. We also know that roughly twice as many men as women are psychopaths. We also know that the personal characteristics of the primary psychopath include many of the characteristics needed to prosper in business—see above.
Ergo, we would expect on this basis alone that roughly twice as many men as women would become successful entrepreneurs.
We know that intelligent psychopaths who do not engage in overt criminal activity tend to be overrepresented as CEOs. We also know that roughly twice as many men as women are psychopaths. We also know that the personal characteristics of the primary psychopath include many of the characteristics needed to prosper in business—see above.
Ergo, we would expect on this basis alone that roughly twice as many men as women would become successful entrepreneurs.
10
Silicon Valley is only a small sliver of start up activity in the US, so why the big focus in this article? Read The Millionaire Next Door. Most wealth in this country is generated by small business owners, who went to state colleges and did not get perfect grades. If the only start ups you are exposed to are high tech, and populated almost exclusively by white males who went to Harvard or Stanford, you'll get depressed and give up. Look at the big picture.
14
Baloney! Silicon Valley is not a "small sliver" of anything; just Sunnyvale alone generates more revenue than some entire States. Since the 1990's, California technology has been the driver of the U.S. economic growth. Opening a florist or Real Estate office is not considered a "start-up" by any means
2
Men disproportionately start business because they are willing to take on the risks associated with that activity. It has nothing to do with mentors and role models and has everything to do with individual appetite for risk.
And quit fudging numbers, 40%-50% of engineers and scientists - I don't think so - maybe if you add in social "science" and biology - women earn about 18% of engineering degrees and that is the still the best route to run a company or start a technical company.
Venture capitalists fund less than 1% of new businesses - so you don't need that route.
And quit fudging numbers, 40%-50% of engineers and scientists - I don't think so - maybe if you add in social "science" and biology - women earn about 18% of engineering degrees and that is the still the best route to run a company or start a technical company.
Venture capitalists fund less than 1% of new businesses - so you don't need that route.
3
You seem to be dismissing social science, neighbor - a lot of us anthropologists would appreciate it if you'd refrain unless you're prepared to qualify your statement.
6
Maybe we aren't defining entrepreneurship broadly enough. If making a huge investment in time and money at great risk with only a remote chance of financial payback is an entrepreneurial act, then by definition, choosing to become a mother and having a baby is entrepreneurial. So maybe the whole premise of this article is off and men only dominate those entrepreneurial activities that guys are drawn to, whereas women are the ultimate entrepreneurs and most guys are just going along for the ride.
13
I've started 3 businesses-- along with my husbands (2 different husbands). But I was 100% the driving force in each one, with more know-how and ability. I was never the lesser partner and no one assumed I was. The reps I dealt with pitched to me and customers were happy to be served by me. I have no complaints. Those were fun times. I don't really see the problem. There are no barriers. Do it! But it is hard to make a living as a small business owner, period.
8
"but if we’re truly going to level the playing field, men have to be part of the equation." ------ (reminder): First, Equality (=) needs to be a part of the equation! The equals sign needs to be accounted for, and then appreciated for profit. World Individual Human Rights are required to even have a "playing field" exist. Otherwise, it is something else. Crimes, violent crimes against women and girls, still happen today, in 2017. Patriarchy. Women and girls are specifically targeted. Forced into marriages that aren't really marriages, forced into pregnancy, forced into ..... Forced. Victimized. Does the girl/woman even have a chance to go to School? If they go to School, what classes do they take, perhaps even: forced to take? Is there a difference between girls and boys curriculum? There shouldn't be a difference based on whether someone is a girl or boy. If there is, then it is a poor curriculum. Poor curriculum creates poor economy. Wealthier economies are based-on Individuality. Wealth is based-on Individuals. Wealth is not based-on superficial categories.
4
As a woman with an engineering and a law degree, who has spent my entire career surrounded by men. Men (who are generally the people in charge) assume women (especially stereotypically attractive women) are stupid until proven otherwise, whereas men with the same credentials are assumed intelligent. I have removed myself from the workforce because I was sick of dealing with that.
24
and how much of that expectation is based on the way this country manages afirmative action policies with gender normed criteria for hiring and de facto quotas
I started three businesses in my lifetime. All made money and were successful. One is still going, being run by my former partner in that business; 36 years later. However, one thing I discovered is for me, with my personality, I did much better for me and my family by working in a business someone else created. I made steadier income, I slept better at night, I took vacations. And I have now successfully retired.
As a pretty good long-term investor I read this and think this says it all: "Another factor could also be at play. Women are generally more risk-averse than men. That makes them better equity investors over the long term, studies have shown."
Yeah, me too.
As a pretty good long-term investor I read this and think this says it all: "Another factor could also be at play. Women are generally more risk-averse than men. That makes them better equity investors over the long term, studies have shown."
Yeah, me too.
12
Another point, Trump being the ultimate example, is that a higher percentage of men are willing to brag, and to use fact- less manipulation, to trick others into thinking "it's going to be great" and you are going to miss out on the big one with the big important boys.
I know this from experience as after, as a Senior executive of a start up, I made an accurate presentation to a venture group re what we had accomplished to date, time lines for the key proof of concept demonstration, and budget, the CEO said that I should never be allowed to come to another venture presentation again.
He had been raising money by lying that we already had achieved the specific proof of concept, yet we had not yet done the key experiment. He knew that, but he didn't care. No wonder so many male to male investments crash and burn.
I know this from experience as after, as a Senior executive of a start up, I made an accurate presentation to a venture group re what we had accomplished to date, time lines for the key proof of concept demonstration, and budget, the CEO said that I should never be allowed to come to another venture presentation again.
He had been raising money by lying that we already had achieved the specific proof of concept, yet we had not yet done the key experiment. He knew that, but he didn't care. No wonder so many male to male investments crash and burn.
34
Why indeed? -- The reasons are the anatomical, physiological and hormonal differences between the two genders in a world of activities created primarily by the male.
So you subscribe to a purely biological view to explain social phenomena, then? Could you provide more detail as to the components and mechanisms involved?
3
I asked a very successful woman entrepreneur - who is much invited by Universities as a role model - if entrepreneurship could be taught
"Not really" she said " You have to be willing to lose it all"
"Not really" she said " You have to be willing to lose it all"
11
Umm, depends on the biz you choose I suppose. I am very risk averse, but I choose a biz that made money from day 1, ran it for 10 years, then sold at nice profit. I took calculated risks and had my bases covered before starting (I was 40 when I started). As for motivation, I was influenced as a little girl by listening to my grandfather excitedly recount business deals at the dinner table. What was clear to me was this: he was having FUN!
5
As one hoping for a new, morally responsible type of managers and owners, I pray that women don't succumb to the greed network.
4
I think it is important, when writing an article like this, to present a picture of the Hierarchical Structure of the BusinessWorld, and what is required for the Resume. What is required to get to The Top Level. If you don't know what the top is, then how are you going to get there? The same for the Higher Education Sector. What does the highest ranked Professor's Resume look like? Shouldn't every Ph.D Student trying to be a Professor, know that?
4
They are mistaken. Having served as a SCORE counselor for 16 years, I can say from experience that women entrepreneurs were often my best and most successful clients. The reason, very often: They paid attention to advice offered and had less problem with acting on what was offered by seasoned veterans. I found the same to be true when coaching MBA students.
17
Kids should play at being entrepreneurial before they do it as adults. Even before starting school, my sister and I played canasta (and later contract bridge) for real money saved from our allowances. I laced up my great grandmother's shoes every day for a nickle until she died at 84. My father died in my early childhood so I never looked to a man for financial support. My older sister, usually beat me at cards so I got used to dealing with failure and how to calculate risks. I am an unusually risk tolerant woman but very careful to evaluate the worst case as well as the upside of every investment. RIsks are not just for entrepreneurs. I bought investment properties. Women need to be willing and able to make personal sacrifices (like going without a vacation) in order to get seed money. When I look back, I see how important those little girl card shark games were. I loved the thrill, had fun, practiced math and bonding with competitors. I learned to win with grace and lose with a smile. Girls need to have more fun with money. Community property hurts educated working women - teaching them to rely on men while their wives rear the children. I think women who work because they enjoy it and want independence, should sign prenupts to preserve their personal savings and future earnings in case of divorce. Here's a money maker - money games for little girls! Warren Buffet and Bill gates became friends playing contract bridge! Bring back bridge.
3
More excuses.
Maybe, just maybe, women are wired differently?
Maybe, just maybe, women are wired differently?
1
"venture-backed entrepreneurs....Ninety-one percent are men"---- These men that the article uses as an example "to applaud", are already business rejects who haven't made it to The Top Level Companies. So, they have to go out on their own. There are Private European Companies that have been around for a very long time. They invest 100 years-out. And, they get the best and brightest from the University. The 91% Men that the article uses as "the example to be followed", are already "out-on-the-street" because the Headhunter for these European Companies, for example, did not accept their Resumes. ----- I know it is likely that when people in the general population see Gompers, Harvard Business School Professor: they think that is the Top, But, No, it isn't.
1
I've been teaching innovation and entrepreneurship for 9 years, at both major research and small universities; before that I was an entrepreneur (female). Some observations from teaching college students: The women are just as good as the men, often better at ideation/opportunity finding, developing detailed operating models, and communicating value. They are more interested in value creation and realism. The men over-promise and over-sell opportunity and underestimate the complexities of execution/operating in a market; they are more interested in money, and tend to be better and more focused on financials. This often makes men a better fit for venture capital, and helps explain why women move on to find another path to be an entrepreneur or choose another path. It is not thin skin--are you kidding? The males can be the touchy ones, they are so used to praise, and the females are used to being constantly criticized. These are generalizations, of course, wth exceptions on both sides. I do agree that some women don't see themselves as entrepreneurs, but this is true for many men as well. Our educational system does not foster a view of themselves as independent business people--although those who grew up in entrepreneurial families already have that. I like putting the men and women together on teams so they can learn about each others' strengths and maybe learn something about their own weaknesses.
41
Most of the women I know are self aware and make career decisions based on the kind of lifestyle we want, which is how we define success. My women friends are all in the fashion related industry comprising of; designers, pr, marketers and founders of their own firms all related to fashion industries. All my women friends are the main bread winners in their families and their husbands and children support their career choices. Although I live in the city, female friends have the told me that the Metro-North platform in Westchester has increasingly more women commuters in the morning. I have yet to read an article celebrating women with successful careers and how did they get there. And ps let's get some other voices in there besides people in financial services and tech, there are some many more industries which women are successful leaders and entrepreneurs.
20
Becoming successful as an entrepreneur also can entail creating a high-visibility personal brand for yourself: publishing articles, becoming interviewed in the media, being a thought-leader, public speaking and developing a reputation as a recognized expert. Such visibility confers credibility and helps attracts clients, opportunities for financing and partnership opportunities with other companies.
Our culture does not always applaud women for such roles, however. We attract social approval when we pursue more traditional paths and can be warned that if successful, we may intimidate men in our personal relationships. (Yes, this still happens.) I believe there is trepidation among some women for these and related reasons toward embracing the public role that being a business owner can require. Same with pursuing "big money." Many women don't know a woman who has done that except through marriage and can't visualize it as an achievement that may be possible for them through entrepreneurship.
But stepping up to the plate is enormously rewarding and well worth the steps taken to overcome such concerns, when they exist.
Our culture does not always applaud women for such roles, however. We attract social approval when we pursue more traditional paths and can be warned that if successful, we may intimidate men in our personal relationships. (Yes, this still happens.) I believe there is trepidation among some women for these and related reasons toward embracing the public role that being a business owner can require. Same with pursuing "big money." Many women don't know a woman who has done that except through marriage and can't visualize it as an achievement that may be possible for them through entrepreneurship.
But stepping up to the plate is enormously rewarding and well worth the steps taken to overcome such concerns, when they exist.
7
Concerned--- It's amazing that you didn't write the word: heterosexuality, in your long comment.
1
The author devotes 90% of the article writing about what seem to be venture-capital-financed start ups in silicon-valley environments--as if the only entrepreneurs worthy of research were those aiming to establish or having established multi-billion dollar companies, and devotes a relatively small part to the hard-working woman and mother running her own dairy and beef operation.
My wife and I are both attorneys, in our early 60s. After working as a prosecutor and being in general practice for 4 years, then serving as in-house counsel and general counsel for a regional airline for 7 years, my wife started her own aircraft aviation practice--now in its 26th year. She has been incredibly successful, and that success would not have been possible without the support she received from many men along the way. Yes, her field has been dominated by men, and she has had to put up with the crap all women--and men--have to put up with every day. But she slugged it out. Her path as a lawyer was no doubt made far less complicated by the fact we chose not to have children, but a person really can't have everything.
My wife and I are both attorneys, in our early 60s. After working as a prosecutor and being in general practice for 4 years, then serving as in-house counsel and general counsel for a regional airline for 7 years, my wife started her own aircraft aviation practice--now in its 26th year. She has been incredibly successful, and that success would not have been possible without the support she received from many men along the way. Yes, her field has been dominated by men, and she has had to put up with the crap all women--and men--have to put up with every day. But she slugged it out. Her path as a lawyer was no doubt made far less complicated by the fact we chose not to have children, but a person really can't have everything.
12
How does one define entrepreneur? Does being an entrepreneur mean one has to start a high-tech company or a business that will eventually employ many people and make millions? Or can being an entrepreneur mean starting a small business, possibly as a side job, working for oneself and making modest profit with hopes of growing it as time goes on? If the latter applies, then I know many women, most of them young, all of them working at other jobs or as mothers and homemakers, who work for themselves in home-based businesses. If you look, you'll find their sisters in every town in the country.
30
What do we really own, as individuals? Our ideas. I say change the view of entrepreneurship as presented in this article, and perhaps you would get different conclusions about men vs. women. A lot of people would say certain men are entrepreneurs, but, given a different analytical viewpoint, their businesses wouldn't really be businesses, because they are dependent on someone else's inventions. ---- For example, software program companies depend on the internet. Yet, the internet was not invented by them. Same for television program companies. Did they invent the television? So, already they are not "owners" as they claim to be. ---- Originality and Individuality, that's the way to build a Resume that can compete at the BusinessWorld Level.
3
Gender, Sex, female, male, man, woman, girl, boy... and then of course, the continuum. The Top Level of the BusinessWorld, does not use these categories, at all. And neither should the lower level. Get in the habit of trying to encourage individuality, and not group lump labels. Encourage brilliance. Brilliance is better than a true color. Go for better than, don't settle.
2
"hopes they will take over someday"--- I hope not. There are many job positions that are so much better. Anyway, Student is a person's first job. Encourage them to do well as Students. Instead of working the farm, maybe they should be at an art museum. One of them could be a famous painter someday, and travel the World. A Star Professor at the University. ------- I hope they have time to do Homework. Learning how to write an Essay takes time and effort. If they do well at their first job, then they don't need a second job.
1
The biology of risk taking should not be ignored. Men get in more bar fights and car accidents too. And it might be that the flip side of being more inclined to risk taking is higher rates of depression as seen in the much higher occurrence of suicide for men than women.
13
I was just looking at the figures yesterday. Women still report more depression, think more often about suicide and do make more suicide attempts. Men can't hold a candle to the number of women reporting depression, but depressed and angry men are more inclined to carry-through on their attempts, often by taking other people with them- wives, children, girlfriends, bosses, coworkers, and complete strangers. I cannot remember a single case in which a depressed and angry woman took an assault rifle, murdered her husband and children, went into a crowded place or former place of employment, shot a bunch of people, and then finally committed suicide or suicide-by-cop. But you never know. We might be gaining on you.
Women in the USA have trouble thinking about and managing money. That's why there are female authors who specialize in teaching other women about money management. The same situation does not arise in East Asia where by tradition women manage the family funds, a task that American culture assigns to men. Possibly women perceive interest in money as unladylike, a cultural residue of a past epoch in which women could rely on male providers. Thorstein Veblen thought a woman's job was to spend the money her husband earned in a way that maximized the socio-economic status of the family. His job was to earn money.
4
Can we put that old canard to rest that women don't help other women in business? Statistics prove over and over again that when women are in positions of leadership they help men and women. When discussing mentorship it is it important to remember that we are often unconscious of the contribution of our networks to our success. The quick tip, the demonstration of how it's done, the phone call, the handshake, these are all things that pave the way for men's success that are not readily available to women. Women also don't know or don't think to ask for these types of help. But we're learning!
1
Is it possible that women need mentors more than men do? Or is it that mentors are only a small part of the answer. All the entrepreneurs I know are motivated from within. I don't recall anyone taking me by the hand and saying that I should start a pharmaceutical company. I just did it.
In the process of becoming entrepreneurs, men too are denigrated and questioned every step of the way. One has to develop a thick skin.
I am a mentor at a Bay Area technology incubator, but those entrepreneurs (men and women) are self-selected when they apply. I find males and females equally intelligent and capable.
Strengths: men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to be more collaborative.
Weaknesses: men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to question themselves more.
In the process of becoming entrepreneurs, men too are denigrated and questioned every step of the way. One has to develop a thick skin.
I am a mentor at a Bay Area technology incubator, but those entrepreneurs (men and women) are self-selected when they apply. I find males and females equally intelligent and capable.
Strengths: men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to be more collaborative.
Weaknesses: men tend to be more aggressive and women tend to question themselves more.
4
You are 200% correct. I know many women entrepreneurs, most small- business owners. They just went out and did it. And many will tell you that men helped them along the way. It's no different than playing soccer in America--you have to go out there and run and kick the ball, even if you don't know all the rules just yet.
6
Come now you really think that men see say Bill Gates as a mentor? Perhaps being less of a risk taker due to a variety of things might explain most of this. I have some skills but dislike risk so no small business for me.
5
"Bill Gates" Now there's someone who has done very well by minimizing risk - you step into a field where the pioneers have done their pioneering, and put it all together with some serious business and marketing skills. Then do all you can to crush competition. Sort of like John D Rockefeller in the oil business. Seriously, there is a high failure rate in startups, but the risk-taking behavior is not evenly distributed. (Most of us do well to stay out of the game altogether.)
6
When it comes to people who are in a specific gender, race, eco. strata, religion, nationality etc. etc. and not entering some fields as much as others here are the guidelines that history has taught us.
1-Society should encourage anybody to enter any field they want and make it known in the culture as long as they are qualified.
2-If there is clear discrimination against any group, it should be stopped by all legal means.
3-Last but not least, don't play the card. In other words because I am a woman or black or jewish or white or anybody I deserve special treatment, quotas etc. until I got 50% or more of anything whether I am qualified or not.
4-If one and two are followed, natural selection will take its course. Some groups will only comprise of 10% or something while others will comprise 90%.
1-Society should encourage anybody to enter any field they want and make it known in the culture as long as they are qualified.
2-If there is clear discrimination against any group, it should be stopped by all legal means.
3-Last but not least, don't play the card. In other words because I am a woman or black or jewish or white or anybody I deserve special treatment, quotas etc. until I got 50% or more of anything whether I am qualified or not.
4-If one and two are followed, natural selection will take its course. Some groups will only comprise of 10% or something while others will comprise 90%.
2
Those things are done in general and especially in the legal arena. When we stop talking about race, gender, sexual preference we will know that bias has been reduced a lot.
2
Agreed vulcanalex at least re playing the card...ie since I am in group A or group B I must get 50% of anything since I am an oppressed minority whether I am qualified or not.
However, also be aware of points one and two. They can easily come into play as witnessed by the Fox News sexually harassment scandal.
However, also be aware of points one and two. They can easily come into play as witnessed by the Fox News sexually harassment scandal.
1
When I lived outside of Menlo Park, CA many moons ago, every venture capitalist I knew back then did go to those schools and the women they married also had gone to the same or other top schools. The wives did just that, they became the homemakers/child managers yet they would've been excellent business people. I often wondered why they'd settled into their roles. Most of them were obviously very unfulfilled. I think women get stuck in domestic lives then it's very difficult to leave. Especially if they're into a big money marriage and lifestyle. Bottom line is I think women are more dedicated and willing to sacrifice themselves for their husbands and families.
20
Perhaps they wanted children and doing that meant actually raising them properly. That is a big responsibility especially with a partner with a very demanding job who might not be able to participate.
7
You can't raise children properly if their father is not willing to participate in their upbringing.
5
You hit the nail on the head when you said "its very difficult to leave".
HR doesn't want to hire someone whose out of the workforce for a few years.
HR doesn't want to hire someone whose out of the workforce for a few years.
6
Women are more exposed to being attacked physically, politically, and financially, than men. Women need more than emotional support. We need to learn how to protect themselves, as individuals, and as a class of human beings.
Living through several dicey, dangerous and unfair situations when starting out, I discovered how vulnerable I was, and am, in this society. Those dangers, when piled onto the usual, expected uncertainties of entreprenurial work, dissuaded me from continuing.
Living through several dicey, dangerous and unfair situations when starting out, I discovered how vulnerable I was, and am, in this society. Those dangers, when piled onto the usual, expected uncertainties of entreprenurial work, dissuaded me from continuing.
19
You make unfounded assumptions about many things. You might feel these ways but others might think that you are just feeling things, not actual facts. You like me don't enjoy risk and see the reward as not worth the risk. Nothing wrong about that and perhaps not that gender related.
2
For women already living in a protected setting, the concept of protection may not be important. But millions of women are unprotected. They very often can't afford to assess a risk and make a focused decision to take it, when it comes to entrepreneurship. They find they must hold back, for the sake of their own and their children's survival.
Your comment comes from a privileged point of view, which is why you can afford to be dismissive.
Mine does not. Rather, it's based on personal experience. My point of view has nothing to do with reward. It has to do with basic survival. Reward is a luxury.
Your comment comes from a privileged point of view, which is why you can afford to be dismissive.
Mine does not. Rather, it's based on personal experience. My point of view has nothing to do with reward. It has to do with basic survival. Reward is a luxury.
21
I have had women tell me oh, I can't do that or I don't like that which in turn puts them in position of not being considered for advancement in management. The underlining thought is if she can't do that, then there is no point in wasting time telling her what has to be done.
An example in our welding production shops is a supervisor that has to know what quality production is. They do not have to be a welder, but they do have to know what quality work is and what sloppy work is. This requires time spent and studying production processes to see the work from the employees perspective. Most women will not put up with the grim and smoke as well as the coarse attitudes of many men in order to learn the basics for management decisions.