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MHT's Doug Banks: Frugal startups get creative with office space
MHT's Julie Donnelly: Biotechs lag in social media use
MHT's Jackie Noblett: VC funds run short in 2009
Business could pat itself on the back for the progress women have made in the corporate world in recent decades. After all, the glass ceiling of 20 years ago was more like a concrete one. But don’t strain yourself stretching for your scapula.
In this issue, where we highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of 11 women leaders in the New England tech sector, with the Mass High Tech Women to Watch awards, there is an ugly reminder of what remains to be done. Check out the data on Pages 20 and 21, where The Boston Club tracks the executive officers and directors in public Massachusetts tech companies. We all should be embarrassed: Even the highest ranked companies have three woman directors and two woman officers.
On that list: 20 companies. 179 board seats, only 38 women directors. 144 executive officer positions, just 25 women officers. A total of 323 opportunities, and 63 women. Pathetic. No excuses. No “well, look how far.” No blaming the recession, global warming or anything else.
It was bad 20-plus years ago when the tech showcases like Comdex would draw 100,000 people, so many of them male that the lines for the men’s room went down the stairs. (No lines for the women.) Go to any event or look at any tech company today. Women clearly have made their mark as inventors and entrepreneurs. Now the women profiled in this issue and the earlier Women to Watch honorees have to stake a claim on the corner office and boardrooms.
Our event, and these profiles, are meant to open a forum on what we can do to break this barrier, looking at all of the people and factors. Tell us your thoughts on what can be done by corporate management, by investors, by educators, by industry groups, by women’s organizations, by individual men and women. Let’s make this a mission for 2010.
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