In response to recent comments by former General Electric CEO Jack Welch at the Wall Street Journal's Women in the Economy conference, the newspaper approached the 18 women who are CEOs of Fortune 500 companies for their opinions.
Welch had critiqued mentoring programs and support groups, saying that women executives should focus instead only on their own performance. The Wall Street Journal asked the CEOs what factors, personal or in the workplace, fueled their careers and what myths about the advancement of women they encountered along the way.
Eleven gave their thoughts and practical advice, echoing much - but not all - of what Welch had to say, albeit with a bit more nuance and finesse. Along the career path, the CEOs say, pursue new skills relentlessly. Change jobs after you've mastered the current one. Be willing to tack sideways on the career track, or even backward, to pick up key expertise or command a business unit. In contrast to Welch, the CEOs endorse the idea of mentorship, which was key to many of their careers.
Read the WSJ article.
Welch had critiqued mentoring programs and support groups, saying that women executives should focus instead only on their own performance. The Wall Street Journal asked the CEOs what factors, personal or in the workplace, fueled their careers and what myths about the advancement of women they encountered along the way.
Eleven gave their thoughts and practical advice, echoing much - but not all - of what Welch had to say, albeit with a bit more nuance and finesse. Along the career path, the CEOs say, pursue new skills relentlessly. Change jobs after you've mastered the current one. Be willing to tack sideways on the career track, or even backward, to pick up key expertise or command a business unit. In contrast to Welch, the CEOs endorse the idea of mentorship, which was key to many of their careers.
Read the WSJ article.
