Shattering the “Golden Ceiling”
Before taking the stage to host the WBII annual International Women’s Day Event in The Hague, I searched for fresh material and statistics. The latest research results and comparative data analysis are predictably published every year around March 8, International Women’s Day.
Statistics can always be found to support either side of an issue. For instance, this year the International Herald Tribune focused on women and science. Only 16 of the 540 Nobel Peace Prizes have ever been awarded to women in science, but the fact that there were 3 awarded last year could be taken as a very positive indicator.
Fifteen years have passed since the Beijing Declaration, but The Gender Wage Gap remains, with women earning 17.6% less than men on average worldwide and the disparity is over 30% in Korea and Japan. What strikes me when I review these statistics each year is how little the statistics change and how slow the wheels of progress actually turn.
It was a thrill to wake up on March 8 and see that the Golden Ceiling had been shattered on the Eve of International Women’s Day! What, you ask is the Golden Ceiling? It is, of course the “Glass Ceiling, Hollywood style! And now, thanks to Katherine Bigelow’s big win of the most coveted golden statue in Hollywood, the Golden Ceiling is finally shattered. It took 82 years for a woman to win the Most Important (and genderless) category of Best Director.
The broader statistics in the film industry are quite disappointing. Of the top 250 films made in 2009, only 7% had a female director. There is still a long way to go, but International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress. Katherine Bigelow’s Oscar is “a first” for women in a competitive industry with tremendous global visibility. Her high profile victory will undoubtedly inspire others and just the mention of it brought cheers and energy to the crowd gathered at our event on Monday night!
Filed under Entrepreneurship, Inspiring, Women | Comment (0)
Forget Powerpoint, Sing and Dance for Your A+
What I wouldn’t give to see my students singing, dancing, and grinning about trying to get good grades!
The standard Dutch goal is to get a 6 out of 10 to pass, no better. It is a shame that too few Dutch students show an interest in achieving higher grades. (In the US, you flunk out of school for getting 6 out of 10!) With widespread access to extremely affordable education, it is definitely a missed opportunity.
Check out this great parody of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies”; “Scholar Ladies” performed by student from Milwaukee’s HOPE Christian Schools. To compete with these students in the future, a mediocre 6 will never do!
Maybe my students will choreograph a few moves of their own for class on Tuesday morning? But Guys, please skip the Justin Timberlake “Single Ladies” black leotards and the “Scholar Ladies” school girl outfits too!
Filed under Just for fun | Comment (0)
Do You Dare to Mix It Up?
Ever noticed that Accountants seem to know a lot of other Accountants and Artists tend to hang out with other Artists?
It is easy to fall into this trap and stay within your comfort zone. Meeting the same people (or similar type) all the time will result in a less effective professional network. This is also true online. Connecting with like-minded people is great, but can lead to tunnel vision.
Meeting interesting people outside of your own profession is a powerful way to strengthen your business and make life more interesting!
How to make it happen? Read about subjects and attend events beyond your immediate areas of interest and outside your zip code. Think twice before you “unfriend ” someone that doesn’t share your opinions or political views. Reach out to connect with people from all walks of life via social networks. Check Meetup.com to find interesting gatherings to attend or try a local Tweetup?
How will you Mix it Up?
Filed under Adventure, Entrepreneurship | Comment (0)
Rejection Collection
Do you save rejection letters? I definitely do. Not because I have a masochistic desire to repeatedly read bad reviews about myself, in fact rejection letters are almost never personal. They are typically generic, copy-paste and insert name, sent by someone (or their assistant) who can’t be bothered.
So why hold on to them? I keep mine as a collection, but the problem is that I don’t have enough rejection letters! Am I bragging here? Is my ego bigger than my collection of rejection letters? No, it’s not that I’m rarely rejected. My short stack of rejections is a reminder that I am not trying hard enough! The hard reality is that you have to endure hearing NO many times in order to hear the magic YES.
Filed under Entrepreneurship, Just Life | Comment (0)
