iconannual 2016 - The European Business and Invetsment Magazine

International Branding
Foto: Katharina Schiffl
"A woman's career
is divided into three
stages: Meritocracy,
the Messy Middle
and Leadership"
Barbara J. Krumsiek
Member of Board of Directors
at Pepco Holdings, Inc.
"Turn diversity into a competitive
advantage. Having teams consisting of both
men and women, especially in the field of
science is very important.
Male and female scientists
from all over the world
with different educational
backgrounds are a key to
success."
Foto: krischanz.zeiller./AIT
Brigitte Bach
Head of Energy Department AIT
"In order to stay internationally competitive,
Austria needs women on leading positions,
regardless whether they are
active in Corporate Boards,
NGOs, or as entrepreneurs
in science and technology.
Therefore, having more
women on the top is an
economic and social matter."
Renate Altenhofer
Initiator Women Leadership Forum
It was a special day at the Novomatic Forum in
Vienna and September 16 th of 2015 should belong in
the memories of all of the attendees. The European
Brand Institute has invited more than 160 exclusive
guests to its third Women Leadership Forum, which
this year followed the slogan "Women make Future".
It was the Ambassador of the United States of
America to Austria, H.E. Alexa Wesner, who opened
the event by emphasizing the challenges that women
face on their way to attain leadership positions. And
indeed, though it is widely believed that men have always
a better shot at leadership positions in business
and politics, there is little consensus, however, on why
women still remain underrepresented in these fields.
Some of the major reasons that there aren't more women
in top leadership roles in business and politics are
higher standards for women and lack of readiness by
companies to hire women for top positions and by voters
to elect women to higher office. But there are also
other reasons, such as: family responsibilities, inexperience,
or women not being tough enough, that are
cited less frequently as significant barriers to female
leadership.
In her keynote speech, US-Leadership expert Barbara
J. Krumsiek, an experienced executive in investment
management, a leader in the field of sustainable
investing, and a dedicated advocate for global women's
empowerment, who joined the Georgetown University
Women's Leadership Institute as a senior industry
fellow, asked the question "Why aren't we there yet?"
Krumsiek described first some of the key words of her
speech: "We" are working women, particularly those in
corporations; "there" refers to full equality, opportunity,
access to capital and seats at the board table and in the
C-suite; and "yet" is now. Krumsiek contended that most
C-corps are really he-corps, since the lion's share of positions
in upper management — including board of director
seats — are held by men. Although well-educated
and often well-prepared for leadership, women are not
yet at parity with their male counterparts. In the 100 >>
"Gender diversity is
not a social matter
but a competitive
advantage."
Anett Hanck
Head of Sales HEUTE
& Board Member WLF
Foto: Privat Foto: Katharina Schiffl
The European Business and Investment Magazine iconannual 117