Teen Girls on Business - Simmons College

<strong>Teen</strong> <strong>Girls</strong> on Business: Are They Being Empowered?A CALL TO ACTION“Business drives the world economy, and peaceexists where there is economicprosperity. Business produces goods andservices that provide for a better life:A major finding continues unabated: women remain underrepresentedin leadership positions across corporateAmerica, even as businesses are created at a rate of 2:1 bywomen entrepreneurs as compared to men. 1 While we havewitnessed a dramatic increase in women professionals andmanagers over the past three decades, the glass ceilingremains firmly in place at the corporate leadership level.Since the 1970s, women have moved from representing 4%of managers to 50%. Yet, in 2002, women held only 7.9%of the highest-ranking corporate leadership positions and15.7% of corporate officer positions, with women of colorrepresenting only 1.6% of corporate officers. 2 Early in 2003,The Committee of 200 released its second annual C200Leadership Index. Using a comprehensive index of measures,the C200 determined that women’s leadership clout in businessis only 4.28, compared to 10 for men. 3Advancing women into top leadership positions is our call toaction. The Committee of 200 and Simmons College Schoolof Management are committed to changing this picture. At atime when we need strong, thoughtful, and ethical leaders,the paucity of women at the top is alarming. We needwomen’s voices, perspectives, and skills shaping the world ofbusiness–leading our companies, contributing to our communities,spawning global partnerships, and launching newenterprises. <strong>Teen</strong>age girls represent the future for leadership.We invite and challenge leaders in business, education,media, government, and the not-for-profit sector to join usin propelling women into top leadership positions.the books children read in school;the drugs that save lives; the foodthat feeds the world. And most not-for-profitorganizations, from the fine arts to PBS,depend on the generous contributionsfrom businesses in their communities.”-Connie K. Duckworth,Partner, 8 Wings Enterprises;Chair, The Committee of 200;Retired Partner, Goldman, Sachs & Co.21Women-Owned Businesses 2002: Trends in the US and Top Metro Areas. The Center forWomen’s Business Research. Washington, DC; 2002.2Census of Women Corporate Officers and Top Earners. Catalyst. New York, NY; 2002.3The C200 Business Leadership Index (2003): Annual Report on Women’s Clout inBusiness. The Committee of 200. Chicago, IL; 2003.