Go
Business, Girl!
by
Robyn Tellefsen
What
do you want to be when you grow up? A doctor? Nurse?
Lawyer? Businesswoman? Chances are, you're more drawn
to the first three options than the last. In a national
survey entitled
Teen Girls on Business: Are They Being Empowered?
the results were clear: You would much rather have a
career in law or medicine than in business, because
you want to make a difference in the world.
The survey's administrators aren't advising against
that desire. In fact, they want to make sure you have
every opportunity to make your contribution to society.
That's why the Chicago, IL-based Committee of 200, a
professional organization of women entrepreneurs and
corporate leaders, and the Boston, MA-based Simmons
School of Management, the only business school designed
specifically for women, joined forces for this study.
They
were also motivated by the fact that women are still
underrepresented in leadership positions across Corporate
America. In 2000, for instance, women only held six
percent of the highest-ranking corporate officer positions.
It seems as if the proverbial "glass ceiling"
keeping women from climbing higher on the corporate
ladder is still in place.
So
instead of waiting for you to embrace the world of business,
it has come to you. Last spring, the group conducted
an eight-page written survey of teens in grades seven
through 12 in 29 public and private schools across the
United States.
Why
are they targeting you? Because you represent the future
for leadership. According to their research, you're
optimistic about your future career, and you plan to
receive higher education. And compared to guys, you
rate the importance of helping others and making the
world a better place higher than making lots of money.
But when asked to select future career choices, girls
selected business careers only nine percent of the time,
while boys listed business 15 percent of the time.
So
why doesn't a career in business fit your goals? Perhaps
you perceive the business world as money-grubbing and
materialistic, and not the least bit altruistic. (Does
the Enron scandal come to mind?)
We
have an idea of what you want out of your future career
life: You want to enjoy what you do, earn the respect
of others, stay interested in your work, and lead a
balanced life. And while you believe that business contributes
to society by providing jobs, goods, and services, you
don't really think business gives back to the community,
cares about employees, or is honest and ethical.
Aside
from ethical concerns, the survey also found that girls
are suffering from a lack of mathematical confidence.
Face it -- when you think of business, you associate
it with money, finance, and your dreaded math class.
And when you rate yourself in those areas, you don't
feel very confident, do you?
Almost
40 percent of girls say that math is their least favorite
subject, versus 31 percent for boys. And while more
than one-third of boys believe they know a lot or everything
about business careers, only 17 percent of girls feel
the same.
Since
a lack of knowledge about ethical businesses and a lack
of confidence may be shaping your choices, see the sidebar
to learn more about gettin' into business, and doing
it confidently.
The
bottom line? You don't have to go into big biz' to be
successful in life. But recognize that the opportunities
are out there, and you might find them more exciting,
fulfilling, altruistic, and doable than you thought.
Never limit yourself! |
