Case

Women who behave rarely make history

Introduction

Since I was a small child I have always been labeled an instigator, I am someone who rejects the accepted paradigm to come up with new ideas. At a very young age I realized that the world is a lot bigger than myself. It served me no purpose to worry about the status quo  that I needed to worry about what I could do that nobody else is to serve my community and support my family. While I understand competition, I do not understand the “I was here first attitude”, the unwillingness of some to support and inspire others and instead being selfish. Being generous reaps great rewards.

-Background with "Aha" moment

In 2007, I landed a contract as a consultant for an organization that was going through a management reorganization. Over the course of several months I was able to help rebrand and identify program gaps which lead to grant and media opportunities. The board and CEO were pleased with my performance and offered me a director position.

Over the course of the next few months their was a hiring decision for the COO and  I was excited when I learned that a female executive was joining this male dominated organization.  

A few days after she got settled I was called into her office. We discussed upcoming projects and I shared proposals and projections. It was halfway through our meeting that the tables turned in a way I never imagined.  It started with a left jab “I’ve seen your work and its good. You’re talented but you are too young to be in this role, you have to pay your dues little girl. “ she scoffed  and then a right hook “I will advise the CEO on all matters, you will go through me. I will keep all of these documents. As long as you know I  won’t let you outshine me, not matter what so don’t try.”

It was at that moment the famous quote by Madeleine Albright  echoed in my head “ There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.”

-Professional Challenge

I am someone who does not give in easily, some may even say I am stubborn. I thought maybe she is being tough on me to see if I can handle the pressure. So I returned the next day and over the course of the next few months, she began to micro-manage every endeavor I worked on. When I produced work that she admired she would take credit and would not allow me access to the CEO.  It became apparent that no matter how good my intentions this was not going to be an environment that I could be neither successful or happy. Many of my friends told me to stay and just endure it because that is the way things have been. I knew that what was happening was wrong and that is not the way that someone should be treated by an organization. All of the books that I was reading were saying that it benefits organizations to cultivate talent and that if women wanted to get ahead they should help one another. I resigned and launched a consulting corporation which helped women start-up entrepreneurs.

-Personal Challenge

In conjunction with the professional matter, I was raising my daughter on my own. I was exhausted and frustrated daily by the difficulties of being sabotaged at work combined with the demands of parenthood. I began to notice that it was not only effecting me as a parent.  I knew there was only one thing to do. I would knock my last project out of the park and then resign because the well-being of my children is worth more than any contract.