Comments on: Ask the White Guy: It’s Not About Housework, It’s About Picking the Right Company

By: YMG

YMG — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:51:14 +0000

I disagree. If you live in a country whose senior leaders beliefs dont mesh with your own – the answer is not to move to another country.

No, I am not senior management – and my job is to fulfill my job requirements, but I feel a deeper responsibility as a woman, to try to change the culture, and im starting with myself. If women read this book, come together and feel empowered to be more ambitious in their careers, then maybe it will help change the culture from within. If Sisyphus had some help, im sure he’d have moved that boulder.

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:29:06 +0000

It’s all a matter of perspective, isn’t it? I never met a person making that kind of income when I was growing up, but I now understand the larger picture. The distribution of wealth is very lopsided—there are many, many people making that kind of money— and $250,000 per year doesn’t buy much of a living in the places where the well-educated and powerful people life. Read “The New Geography of Jobs” by Enrico Moretti. He shows how the well-educated and ambitious are accreting in some cities/areas and leaving others. People who have drive and ambition pick up and move to those places for the opportunities they offer. You wouldn’t be able to buy a garage for $250,000 in Cheryl’s neighborhood (not even half a garage). Yet, she’s telling you to “lean in.” It’s foolishness to “lean in” at a company that hasn’t “leaned in” themselves. If you have aspirations for a career that transcends “normal” income ranges, then you need the best possible place to develop it. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: Marisol T.

Marisol T. — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:29:35 +0000

Whoa! I take issue with describing an income of more than $500,000 a year as a “good upper-middle-income living.” According to the Census, the median household income in the US was $50,054 in 2011. An adjusted gross income of $500,000 would put someone in the top 1% of earners! $250,000 would put you in the top 5% of earners.

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:14:21 +0000

The World Bank reminds me of the Federal Reserve: insular, insulated and constrained to the constipated thinking that people who are way too impressed with themselves tend to cultivate. Whoopee, here comes Bwana from Harvard who's going to tell all us dark people what to do. It's a wonder we haven't had World War III yet. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:11:29 +0000

I so agree with you. I don't think many people have the capacity or stamina to be effective beyond 50 hours of work per week. It's all about face time, playing politics and sadism. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:09:18 +0000

Why on earth would you sacrifice for a company that hasn’t already recognized the value of women? It’s not your mission to change some company that you’re working for; it’s your job to fulfill your job requirements. Unless you’re paid to be senior management, you have no responsibility to “change the culture from within.” It’s 2013—companies that don’t get it just don’t get it. That’s fine, the market will decide the repercussions of not getting it.

You have one life to live. If Sisyphus is your idol and you admire Don Quixote, then have at it and break your teeth off trying to change the minds of a bunch of gazillionares at Facebook or Microsoft. Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc

By: YMG

YMG — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:47:46 +0000

So women should, rather than look to improve upon themselves, leave the Facebooks and Microsofts of the world and join only companies that have a diverse board, or are recognized by Diversity Inc? I think in order to get companies to change, more women need to “lean in” to their aspirations (at whatever company they choose), and rise through the ranks- to help change the culture from within.

By: Andres Jordan

Andres Jordan — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:26:54 +0000

Ah, very good exchange and I tend to side with Luke on this one. This reminds me of my early days wanting to work in international development and applying to the World Bank. The note back from them then – and still now- is that we only look at Ivy league candidates or those .0001 percenters. So basically, in many instances, without that pedigree you are in non-starter land day one, man or women. Period.
The extremely sad piece of this attitude is that really good and creative people (women or men) are dismissed with nary a look.

By: grannybunny

grannybunny — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:03:54 +0000

I have a problem with the concept:

“You cannot have two people with high-flying careers in a relationship unless they don’t have children. If you have children or want a family, one spouse/partner must stay home.”

I’m sure alot of those men having to work 60-90 hour weeks to optimize their success would like to have a little more work-life balance, too. If a job requires 90 hours to perform at one’s peak, it’s not a job; it’s 2 jobs that need to be divided among 2 employees. If more men would start pushing back against such grueling requirements, and insist upon halfway reasonable work hours, if wouldn’t so often be necessary for “one spouse/partner…[usually a woman, to] stay home.”

By: Luke Visconti

Luke Visconti — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:18:16 +0000

Yeah, that was almost 20 years ago. So while waiting for lightning to strike a second time, you’ll spend a lifetime in a job you don’t like in a place that doesn’t promote women very well (not my opinion, that’s what’s on their website). I wouldn’t advise someone to play the lottery as a career move, especially if you have aspirations to reach top management.

Flip this around—if you’re the CEO, what kind of people do you want to attract? Luke Visconti, CEO, DiversityInc