Why Women Mean Business [Paperback]

Never before has there been such a confluence of international attention to the economic importance of women and the need for policies to enable them to fulfil their potential. The position of women – as employees, consumers and leaders – is seen as a measure of health, maturity and economic viability.

Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an ageing workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results.

The optimisation of women’s talents will boost the bottom line. Taking action to achieve this will require sustained courage and conviction from today’s corporate leaders. Reading Why Women Mean Business will be an important first step.

“...gives example after example of the price that we all pay for a situation in which ‘women may hold the keys but men still control the locks’.”

The Times

“What’s especially valuable is the authors’ analysis of where companies go wrong in managing women...that’s how it will help women in the workplace.”

Harvard Business Review

“Lays out the importance of retaining women in senior leadership positions.”

Harpers Bazaar

“Wittenberg–Cox and Maitland have opened new ground.”

Management Today

WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS

They make up much of the market and most of the talent pool. Reaching women consumers and developing female talent is essential for sustainable economic growth in the 21st century. Studies show that better gender balance in business means better bottom line results and greater resistance to economic crises.

So why are there still so few women in leadership roles in business? Why are companies struggling to respond to today’s female consumer? Why is there a persistent pay gap between men and women around the world?

Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. Fully updated in paperback, the book shows why getting gender right matters – as much when the economy’s bust as when it’s booming. A must–read, packed with ideas from companies that have made it work, views from top business leaders and step–by–step guides to how we can all become gender bilingual.

Avivah Wittenberg–Cox is CEO of the leading Gender Consultancy, 20–First.

Alison Maitland is a journalist and commentator. She was previously Management Writer at the Financial Times.

Avivah Wittenberg–Cox is CEO of 20–First, a leading gender consultancy, Publisher of 20–first.com and a global expert on how businesses can gender balance to get the best out of both halves of the talent pool and both halves of the market. She is also the founder and honorary president of the European Professional Women’s Network, and a certified executive coach. Elle Magazine recognised her as one of the top 40 women leading change. She lives in France with her husband and gender balanced children (a son and a daughter).

Alison Maitland is a journalist and commentator who has been writing about women and business for over a decade. She spent 20 years with the Financial Times, latterly as Management Writer. A regular conference speaker and moderator, Alison is a Senior Visiting Fellow at Cass Business School in London and directs The Conference Board’s European Council for Diversity in Business. She lives in the UK with her husband and two daughters.