Research and interview
Even though in this era there are more and more company encourage woman to move up, the percentage of man and woman in position of leadership still not reach equal. According to Sheryl Sandberg, there are three major problems that keep women in a low percentage of leadership.
1. Women are less confidence than men. She says: ”Men overestimate their ability, women underestimate their ability.” ”Men credit themselves of success, and women attribute to other factors” In other words, no one get promoted if no one think they don’t succeed.
2. Women do more housework than men. According to Sandberg, “women do twice of housework if they have one child.“ “woman do third times of childcare” “data shows equal family also has 50% divorce.”
3. Women make their decision too far advanced. For example, women always think about how to take of their child before they have a child.
I got some points from her speech.
- Women are usually less confidence
- Women have take more responsibilities of housework
- Women worry many uncertain future
Based on those problems I interviewed many managers, and wanted to know their thoughts.
I am just listing some key points that got feedbacks from my interviewers.
Freelance designer, owns her small business, Alison:
- She never thinks about to be a leader because the position is out of her comfort zone.
- She became a leader naturally because she owns her business.
- She doesn’t want to expend her business because that will need more money.
- A family really affects her ambition of growing her business.
- She has a good partner supports her.
Texas state University Gallery director of art and design, Margo:
- Been here for one and half year.
- Her parents inspired her to be a leader.
- She has a good partner to support their kid.
- She agrees that having a baby will affects work performance. (Need more time)
- She states out that a workplace with policies to supports female will help to increase woman willing to be a leader. (initiation support, maternity leave, an unstandable boss,housecare)
Assistant Manager of bath and body works, Presentation manager of mat smart, manager of vacado, Now Assistant Manager of Lindt Chocolate: Christine (38)
- Been managing for 10 years
- She has a good role model (her mom)
- Want to be a leader because she wants to help people find what they want
- Works in Walmart distributing center, CERTAIN people make the workplace difficult, not the company.
- For the most part she feel she is respected, but still some people not respects her because of her gender.
- Knowing she can make difference, and just try it,
- See something people can proof themselves may help.
- Woman don’t want to move up because they probably not happy with where they are at.
- Believe old school mentality still in some people’s mind, they need new an education system.
- Can’t be afraid, speak out.
- Meet more people and hear what other people say may inspire women. (go out, social media)
- Believe most of business can balance the gender, however, it depend on what type of company. (for example, I want to Bose store later, asking if they have female manager. Their manager is a man and told me that usually electronic store prefer a man to be manager)
- Typically, women don’t like to manage in some situation (army)
- Never want children but agree have children will take time from your work.
Store manager of Brighton, Sandra:
- Been in this store for 11 years
- Went to school for business management, and wanted to be a leader since she was young.
- Been a manager in other company, but go back to be a store manager since she had a child. Been a store manager doesn’t need to travel; it helps to maintain a family.
- Knows a lot of people because she was been a sales. Because of her good social network, she was offered a promotion.
- Less family time because of her work. Her children complain about she loves her work too much and hot has enough time to stay with them.
- Good support for her children. (Her parents take care of her children while she is traveling for work)
- Run a business is like doing housework. Being a leader is like take care of housework.
- Work hard to achieve goals.
- Pressure in meet Sales, have struggles sometime. But always try your best.
- Have a nice boss keeps a leader to stay longer in the company.
Manager of Nike store, Carega (not sure how to spell her name)
- Learn business manager at TXST, graduated in 2001
- Been in Nike for 15 years
- The money encouraged her to be a leader
- Believe she could lead, have ability to interactive her peers
- Likes to help others, so moving up to a higher position may get more chance to do that.
- Feel sometime people don’t take you seriously until you proof yourself.
- Some peers (man) not pay respect to her and offended to her when she got prompted.
- The company is fair.
- Children do affect their work hours
- Encourage her children to do the right thing; speak out for others and themselves.
- Give up time, sleep in order to get this position.
- Never give up.
Manager of Puma store, Ashaly
- Been in PUMA for 5 years, manager for 4 years
- Encourage by her parents. Her parents are all leaders.
- Feel man is more suitable for this position in physical reason.
- The company judges her work performance and encourages her to move up.
- They train and encourage students to be a supervisor.
- Not worry about to have a child when she is in this position because the company has good support.
- Be a manager need more time at work.
- If she love the company, she will stay no matter other offer better salary for her.
Manager of man’s watch store, Magain
- Been in management for 2 years
- Like to take charge, make things done
- Like to take challenge, figure out to deal with things properly
- Give up schooling a little in order to get this position
- People don’t take serious of her because of she is young and she is a female
- Some customers doesn’t talk to her because they want a man manager
- Believe different job descriptions prefer different gender
- See a lot of company prefer to hire a man to be a manager
- Believe women are not less confidence than men
- Work hard, be willing to learn
- Want to move up to a higher position, but not sure if other company have open position for woman
- Single! She has her time
- Worry about having a child may bring her a little bit back, also take time to take care of them.
- Try to teach people that woman and man are equal. Offer they sane position of jobs.
- Trying to encourage women to work in different field and train them skills.
Manager of Disney store, Jasmine
- She promoted herself
- The company asked her to be a leader
- The owner encourages women to be leaders
- Time is very flexible in this company
- Work hard and the success will come to you
- With confidence
Other interviewers
Q: Do you want to be a leader? Why?
- Yes! Because that’s must be a coooolest position.
- yes! because I like communicating with people
- Yes. Being a leader makes me more confident.
- Yes. Because I have the ability.
- No, I’m not so outgoing
- Yes, because I am qualified for the role and have passion for it nope, just want have a simply life
- Yes. Leadership comes in all sizes because essentially leadership is a matter of character; even small acts of kindness may be executed within a spirit of leadership. I have assumed more traditional arenas if leadership in the past and plan to do so again. I’ve found that I’ve fallen into the role naturally as distinct from ambition, usually because I was willing to assume responsibility.
- Not especially. It’s a calling and I have a lot on my plate as it is.
- Yes. Because it’s important to make our ownnpaths in life
Q:What may encourage you to be in a position of leadership?
- power
- Responsibility.
- My ability to manage a group. It may be something that I eager to do it well
- To make a difference in the work place and also make improvement to the organization
- Money
- Externally, a supportive environment and micro opportunities to exercise leadership (especially when one is just starting) ar important. Internally, a vision, sense of purpose, courage, and resolve are key.
- Not everyone wants to be a leader. There isn’t anything I could be offered to accept a position like this.
- Lack of established leadership. Seeing an opportunity
Q: What’s the reason drives you to be a leader?
- Personal reason Hardworking
- Love and passion for your job and wanting to make a difference in the workplace environment for women
Q: What are your concerns when you are in the position?
- I can’t do it well
- Opportunity
- How to manage people, deliver the message and encourage team to perform
Q: What’s your fear before you get this position?
- No fear
- Communication
- Will I be able do a great job as a leader as much as I think I can do?
Q: How your kids affect your work?
- Sometimes, you lose the flexibility to be there for your kids because of work.
Q: What is your ambition in your field or in your career?
- Do the best about politics in economics, do the best about data in geography.
- be a project manager
- Idk
- Be a top management with both technical and business skills.
- To lead a small group of people in my job.
- Be a professional orchestra performer To continue to grow and learn from others and be the change maker in a male-dominated field Get professional certification
- To be my own boss and to create the sort of things that interest me.
- Teacher
- Creative Director
Jobs:
- Encourage women to keep moving up continually
- Understand the job description and eliminate the fear of unknown future
- Training of women’s confidence
- Inspire women to be a leader
- Building social networks and relationship with sponsors
- Helping to find a right position
- Offer a platform to show yourself
- Increase your work ambition
Pains:
- Some people (customers, leaders) still keep the old school mentality that men work better in a leader position.
- Physical situations. (Having a baby, periods, emotional control)
- Not enough confidence of leading a group of people.
- Different styles of management of different companies.
- Lack of inspirations.
- Social network is different from men.
Gains:
- Get inspired.
- Understand the job well before you get into the position.
- Improve your self-confidence.
- Evaluate yourself accurately.
- Develop a good hobbit.
- Help to set a goal and push you to move.
- Train your desires.
Target User: 23–30 women/ Have 1–2 years work experiences female
Competitors:
Direct: AAUW charity, University of Virginia, Executive Programs For Women | Harvard Business School, Femail(Daily Mail),
Indirect: Train ‘n Gain app, Leader Dev app,
Wild card: Google, website.
Differences
Our service/app
Helps to promote woman in position of leadership
Who want to be a leader but don’t know how to start
By built their good hobbits plans, get inspired, understand and choose their interests, improve their confidence, build business social network and get rewords
Unlike courses need to move to a certain location