“Forget Balance, Aim High” Say Top Female Execs

Posted on | November 22, 2006 | No Comments

On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal hosted it’s Women Leading Business panel of top female execs, including Avon’s CEO Andrea Jung, Carol Bartz, executive chairman of the board of Autodesk, Frances Aldrich Sevilla-Sacasa, president of U.S. Trust, Ursula Burns, president of business group operations at Xerox and a corporate senior vice president, Nancy Peretsman, managing director and executive vice president of Allen & Co., and Laura Desmond, CEO of Starcom MediaVeset/the Americas.

The panelists provided insight into the issues they confront at the top, the choices they have to make, and the short-term sacrifices that lead to longer-term success.  They advised women to take risks, to take stretch jobs and to stop limiting ourselves.  Sevilla-Sacasa advised women to take lateral positions and even “demotions” as a way of building experience.

In response to a question of “What about balance?” Bartz said that she “rejects ‘balance’ because it’s perfection, and that’s not possible.  Instead you have to catch things before they hit the floor.  Don’t spend time being guilty, figure out what works.”

Bartz also advised all women to take charge of their carers, to stand out and let it be known the kind of job you’re doing and where you want to go.  Learn to be an actress–practice being brave, confident, calm even when you’re not.

Peretson advised women to figure out who they are–different attributes make you successful in different jobs. Use early career years to figure that out.

Watch video of the panel 

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