Discover how successful women in business are changing the landscape and how you can adopt their strategies to advance your career.
Women entrepreneurs are pivotal in reshaping industries, yet they still face significant challenges. Despite efforts to rise in the business world—whether by launching successful ventures or entering executive roles—barriers remain prevalent. A mere 8% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and only 1% of these are women of color. In the previous year, just 2% of venture capital was allocated to female founders. Even when women secure funding, they often receive less than half of what male counterparts do and face tougher scrutiny regarding their capabilities.
These challenges don't only impact women; they affect everyone—men, businesses, and the economy as a whole. Excluding women from leadership roles stifles fresh ideas, innovation, and revenue growth.
In this episode, we feature a guest who has witnessed this issue firsthand throughout her journalism career. Julia Boorstin, Senior Media and Tech Correspondent at CNBC, hosts the network's TechCheck program. She also created the CNBC Disruptor 50, which showcases companies reshaping the economy, and launched the Closing the Gap initiative that spotlights efforts to enhance gender and diversity within corporate settings.
Julia has dedicated the last few years to highlighting the strengths of women leaders. After analyzing data and interviewing over 60 female executives, she concluded that despite hurdles, women excel as managers, innovators, and decision-makers. Her findings are compiled in her book, “When Women Lead: What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them.”
We explore extensive research revealing the leadership strengths women possess—empathy, vulnerability, and gratitude. Julia emphasizes that these traits were vital for business continuity during the pandemic.
“These qualities might seem unrelated to traditional notions of leadership,” she states, “but they are crucial for engaging with customers, connecting with employees, and inspiring teams in turbulent times.”
Additionally, we discuss how female leaders adeptly manage stressful scenarios, promote collaboration, and imbue their organizations with purpose. Julia argues that overcoming obstacles cultivates flexibility, creativity, and resilience in their companies.
Julia also shares strategies for fostering resilience, empowering you to rise above challenges in your career and personal life. She reflects on the discrimination she faced as a reporter and how understanding gender bias fortified her position.
In our Mailbag segment, we address a listener's challenges with I-bonds and another's inquiry about reducing systemic wealth inequality. Plus, in Thrive, we cover everything you need to know about writing cover letters.
