Why women mean business : understanding the emergence of our next economic revolution

Never before has there been such a confluence of international attention to the economic importance of women and the need for policies to enable them to fulfil their potential. The position of women - as employees, consumers and leaders - is seen as a measure of health, maturity and economic viability. Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an ageing workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results. The optimisation of women's talents will boost the bottom line. Taking action to achieve this will require sustained courage and conviction from today's corporate leaders. Reading Why Women Mean Business will be an important first step. � Read more... Abstract: Never before has there been such a confluence of international attention to the economic importance of women and the need for policies to enable them to fulfil their potential. The position of women - as employees, consumers and leaders - is seen as a measure of health, maturity and economic viability. Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an ageing workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results. The optimisation of women's talents will boost the bottom line. Taking action to achieve this will require sustained courage and conviction from today's corporate leaders. Reading Why Women Mean Business will be an important first step Foreword / Niall Fitzgerald -- Preface / Michael Kimmel -- Ch. 1. Womenomics -- Guarantors Of Growth -- The Strategic Side Of The Gender Divide -- Opportunity Cost -- Valuing Difference -- Becoming Gender-bilingual -- Declining Demographics Is Not Destiny -- 21st Century Forces : Weather, Women, Web -- Ch. 2. Most Of The Talent -- The Talent Wars Are Here -- Female Brainpower -- Under-used Talent -- The Role Of Business Schools -- Tapping Into The Pool -- Building Better Boards -- Legislating Solutions - The Controversial Quota -- Ch. 3. Much Of The Market -- Purchasing Power - Beyond Parity -- Female Finances -- Sex And Segmentation -- The Many Faces Of Marketing To Women -- Ch. 4. Becoming Bilingual, What Companies Can Do -- A Fresh Look At Traditional Approaches To Gender -- Equal And Different -- Diversify Dilemmas -- Recognise That Best Is Biased -- Surprising Sectors -- A New Approach To Gender -- The Building Blocks Of Bilingualism -- Ch. 5. Seven Steps To Successful Implementation -- Key Success Factors -- Ch. 6. Culture Counts, What Countries Can Do -- Making Bosses And Babies -- Best And Worst : Surprising Results -- Imperfect Deal In America -- Continents Of Contrast -- Public Policy Pull, Private Sector Push -- Ch. 7. Figuring Out Females -- What Companies Need To Know About Women -- Discomfort With Politics -- The Conversations That Matter -- Careers Are Not Straight Lines -- The Lure Of Entrepreneurship -- Alternative Views Of Power -- Sex, Success And The Media -- Change Agents On Their Own Terms -- Ch. 8. Tomorrow’s Talent Trends ... Today, Women-friendly Means People-friendly -- New Models Of Work -- Fathers Count Too -- Technology As Enabler -- The Value Of Grey Brainpower -- Making The Most Of The Me Generation -- The Future Is Already Here -- Ch. 9. Conclusion, From Better Business To A Better World? -- New Voices, New Choices -- New Measures Of Success -- A Challenge For Business. Avivah Wittenberg-cox And Alison Maitland. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS "...gives example after example of the price that we all pay for a situation in which 'women may hold the keys but men still control the locks'." The Times "What's especially valuable is the authors' analysis of where companies go wrong in managing women...that's how it will help women in the workplace." Harvard Business Review "Lays out the importance of retaining women in senior leadership positions." Harpers Bazaar "Wittenberg-Cox and Maitland have opened new ground." Management Today WOMEN MEAN BUSINESS They make up much of the market and most of the talent pool. Reaching women consumers and developing female talent is essential for sustainable economic growth in the 21st century. Studies show that better gender balance in business means better bottom line results and greater resistance to economic crises. So why are there still so few women in leadership roles in business? Why are companies struggling to respond to today's female consumer? Why is there a persistent pay gap between men and women around the world? Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. Fully updated in paperback, the book shows why getting gender right matters – as much when the economy's bust as when it's booming. A must-read, packed with ideas from companies that have made it work, views from top business leaders and step-by-step guides to how we can all become gender bilingual.

Never before has there been such a confluence of international attention to the economic importance of women and the need for policies to enable them to fulfil their potential. The position of women - as employees, consumers and leaders - is seen as a measure of health, maturity and economic viability.

Why Women Mean Business takes the economic arguments for change to the heart of the corporate world. This powerful new book analyses the opportunities available to companies that really understand what motivates women in the workplace and the marketplace. Find out how companies that learn to adapt to women will be better able to respond to the challenge of an ageing workforce and the demands of the next generation of knowledge workers. The authors compare policies and approaches in countries around the world, that offer surprising and envious results.

The optimisation of women's talents will boost the bottom line. Taking action to achieve this will require sustained courage and conviction from today's corporate leaders. Reading Why Women Mean Business will be an important first step.

Content: Womenomics -- Most of the talent -- Much of the market -- Becoming "bilingual", what companies can do -- Seven steps to successful implementation -- Culture counts, what countries can do -- Figuring out females -- Tomorrow's talent trends--today, "women-friendly" means "people-friendly" -- Conclusion, from better business to a better world? Discusses the influence of women on business, arguing that companies need to adapt to women in order to succeed, and provides a guide for companies on hiring women and on harnessing the complementary skills of men and women.