Jack Welch Sounds False Note on Women in Corporate America

Women across the country should sound a collective sigh of dismay at the antiquated and frankly harmful comments recently made by former GE CEO Jack Welch.

Speaking at a human resources conference, of all places, where one expects to hear more gender friendly rubric, Welch proclaimed, "There's no such thing as a work-life balance," going on to explain that a woman's choice to have a family makes career advancement all but impossible.

What kind of message does this send to young girls today? The message is essentially: Don't even try because you can't have it all -- choose one or the other.

I regularly interview women for my show Give and Take who do have it all -- they are mothers with high powered careers. These women are resolute, dedicated and supreme multi-taskers. Take the case of Liz Lange, who started a maternity fashion empire, all while raising two young kids and battling the ravages of cervical cancer, which included grueling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Campbell Brown, who hosts a national cable news show while raising two young boys, is another great example. Both of these women demonstrate that, while it may not be easy, it is possible to flourish as a working mother.

While Welch focuses on the boardroom as a major obstacle to women who choose to raise kids while climbing the corporate ladder, there is a plethora of evidence that proves him wrong. In my conversation with Alexandra Lebenthal, who is herself a prime representation of an accomplished CEO and mother, she pointed out that while some women have left Wall Street, many have done so to start their own companies, as evidenced by the fact that women employ more people than all of the Fortune 500 companies put together. There are also a number of women who have briefly exited the career highway to start families only to make successful returns to the corporate world later on.

Despite the countless women who have proven it is possible to balance career and family, there are still significant roadblocks in corporate America. According to a 2008 census of Fortune 500 companies performed by Catalyst.org, a leading non-profit organization that works to build more inclusive workplaces for women globally, the advancement of women in corporate leadership continues to stagnate, with only 15.2 percent holding board of director positions, as compared with 14.8 percent in 2007. There has also been an increase to 66 from the 59 companies in 2007 with no women at all on their boards.

We still have a long way to go in providing more opportunities for women in corporate America, but we will never get there if the attitudes that are passed down reflect the belief that a woman "can't" have it all.

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Comments

[Involution]

I don't think it is a question of if it can be done (of course it can), it is a question of how well. Looking at it a different way- my father was a consumate corporate ladder climber at a major corporation. He was the youngest person to ever hold the various upper level management postions he was in. To this day (I'm in my late 40's) I don't have much of a relationship with him because I don't know him and he doesn't know me.

I have not risen to the level my abilities could have taken me because I chose to put parenthood above career. FWIW, I'm an engineer. My son and I are very close and he constantly tells me how much he loves spending time with me. I almost never work extra hours.

There are choices to be made. While you can do it all, there is no way you can do it all well.

[bighat]

If women employ more people than the Fortune 500 all together what does it matter waht Welch has to say. Is succdess measured by corporate title? Does anyone even like corporate CEOs. I do doubt that anyone can become CEO of a Fortune 500 company and be involved in their children's lives. 1 game or play every couple of months is not what I call being involved.. Neither is arriving home at 9. Plus the business trips.

[petef59]

Jack Welsh? That innovator, creative genius, man who thinks outside the box, best and brightest leadership in 20th century leading edge leadership? What a bloated ego-plain and simple.

[petef59]

Not to mention anti-union hack.

[barbarakelley]

As offputting as Welch’s comments were, could they hint at one source of the angst felt by young women who DO want it all — but are still being told it can never work? Is it any wonder that analysis paralysis steps in when women believe that they must decide between career and family?

And is this either/or business a false choice?

this was the subject of a post on my blog last week. you'll find the post -- and several interesting comments here:
http://undecidedthebook.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/the-more-things-change/

[CydMiller]

He is right. Especially among heterosexual couples where the women continue to be the primary caretakers and take care of the house/shopping, etc.

Even if men actually did their fair share as caretakers and split duties for house/errands, it would still be difficult unless they were stay-at-home dads. I do know several women SVPs of large corporations who have stay-at-home spouses, it then works.

[petef59]

And us single people who pick up overtime for years to cover for couples with kids. Sure would be nice if I could complete my last few college classes without missing them due to forced overtime(I'd quit, but I did that once without medical insurance-guess what happened).Such an enlightened business leadership class we have these days. Keep pullin' on those bootstraps.

[Pucky]

I am not a fan of Jack, but he is right. You can't have it all.

And that goes for men too. You can't make it in the corporate world without having someone else (probably your second wife) raise your kids.

But maybe you will get to see them on holiday.

[Slynns]

As a young professional female, hate to say it, but Welch's remarks resonate as true in most instances. For a legal constructivist arg, see:

http://ourforwardmovement.blogspot.com/2009/07/jack-welch-legal-constructivist-or.html

[Artemis34]

Welch is a dinosaur. Can't believe anyone still asks him to speak.

He is an advocate of the infamous "rank and yank" or eat your young school of management that forces so many to lie in Enron for example.

There is room for improvement on work life balance for both men and women. The American corporation is a family hostile place, more so if you have a "leader" like Welch.