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1 Out of 100: Forbes’ List is Just the Symptom
Forbes Magazine recently published a list of the 100 Most Innovative Leaders. One out of 100 was a woman. And none was a woman of color.
Seriously?
In these times (or any time), for a list like this to appear in a reputable business magazine is, in my view, downright deplorable.
They had the grace to admit this is wrong, but how did this list ever get published?
Forbes’ list is just the symptom. Real change is called for on a systemic level at the magazine and beyond.
I’m glad that female CEOs stepped right into it and called foul — thank you to the high profile women who did.
Women do need to continue to step up. We need to be more visible. We need to move into leadership roles more readily. There is certainly work to be done there.
But it’s my belief that systemic change that considers women at every level is not going to be implemented by women alone. If that could be done, it would have happened already.
We need the support of men. Men who are willing to change the status quo, which clearly is still heavily embedded. Men who are willing to step up and say, this is wrong.
The good news is, some men are stepping up. Robert K. Coughlin, President & CEO of…
