Her Place at the Table: A Woman's Guide to Negotiating Five Key Challenges to Leadership Success, Completely Updated

San Francisco, CA – As campaign season in California kicks into high gear, women are running the show, including Meg Whitman at the top of the GOP ticket and Carly Fiorina and Barbara Boxer running neck and neck for senate. Not everyone throws their support behind new leaders, yet it seems women face hyper scrutiny. If these and other women demonstrated competence over and over again, why must they still prove their legitimacy?

While the proverbial glass ceiling has long been broken, HER PLACE AT THE TABLE addresses this more fuzzy challenge of “second generation” gender issues. While first generation issues involve clear cut biases and blatant discrimination – second generation issues are more subtle and in many ways more difficult to address because they are an inherent part of and organization’s culture and work practices. While these practices may appear gender neutral (i.e.: “we promote based solely on merit”, “our best employees are willing to do what it takes, 24/7”), they are in fact more likely to have a different impact on men and women.

HER PLACE AT THE TABLE has identified the four questions that will certainly surround the appointment of a woman in a leadership role. These questions are tricky because they are subtle and neither the employer nor the woman may be aware of them:

• Is she a good fit for the role?
• Can she be both a woman and a leader?
• Has she demonstrated leadership capability?
• Will her personal life get in the way?

Based on interviews with over 100 women in leadership positions, HER PLACE AT THE TABLE helps women understand these unarticulated yet persistent questions. It contains a case study in each chapter, a list of “to-do’s” and advice so that the reader can successfully master each challenge. What’s more, this book can help anyone: man or woman, navigate through the puzzling world of today’s complex organizations.