Ursula Burns is absolutely correct. There is indeed a tidal wave approaching - and it's approaching quickly as the number of women enrolled in college today consistently surpasses the number of men in nearly all states across the country.
So, yes. There are a lot of women -- a lot of future leaders -- coming into the market. But there is really only one key question that matters here...
Is corporate America READY FOR these women?
Or (as has been happening over the past several years), will these women jump into corporate America only to jump right back out a few years later due to the overwhelming systemic issues that keep them from being accepted for their authentic leadership styles? Have you seen the dramatically increasing numbers for women entrepreneurs lately? If you're wondering where all the women who got fed up with corporate America went, look no further.
And corporate America lost out on these brilliant women.
Are corporate leaders finally ready to change the "created BY men, FOR men" business model? Are they ready to create a new work environment where women don't have to choose between being a parent and being a professional? An environment where a woman can lead authentically like a woman rather than trying to act like a man? Because if they're not, nothing will change. Nothing will change...and our country will continue suffering because of it.
The time is now for us to get this right. We can't keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result -- the insanity loop. It's time for a breakthrough.
We MUST HAVE more women in leadership positions in corporate America. Not only does your company's future depend on it, it is the only way our country will thrive in today's global economy.