Panel Discusses Obstacles to Women in Business

Five alumnae, all past presidents of Harvard Student Agencies (HSA), spoke of the challenges women face in the corporate world in a discussion panel last night.

The panel--titled "Beyond the Basics: Women Executives Speak on Leading in Corporate America"--was co-sponsored by HSA, The Women's Leadership Project (WLP) and The Harvard College Women's Initiative.

Panel members Lynne O'Connor '82, Andrea Silbert '86, Debra Graham '88, Gina Wilcox '90 and Shani Lester '95 shared diverse perspectives on the glass ceiling and formal and informal interactions in the corporate workplace.

The panelists emphasized the divergent career paths that they chose following their undergraduate careers.

Silbert, who founded the non-profit Center for Women and Enterprise in order to train women to start their own businesses, urged audience members to consider a career in entrepreneurship.

She said the female entrepreneurs she has met have learned to "rewrite the rules of the game," avoiding the frustration of hitting the glass ceiling in larger corporations.

Lester, an account executive with Leo Burnett U.S.A., concurred with Silbert's evaluation, remarking that, even in her relatively small advertising firm, she encounters obstacles in her informal interactions with client companies.

"It's difficult to have common ground," she said, when the socializing that goes on between her company and its Fortune 500 clients is dominated by sports-related conversation and golf games.

Lester said she has alleviated this problem by taking on new hobbies and staying well-versed in current affairs so that she has a technique for beginning every conversation.

Her fellow panelist, Wilcox, who works in strategy consulting with Streamline, Inc., emphasized that this type of proactive attitude is necessary for a woman's success in the business world.

"Nobody in business owes you anything," she remarked. "If you think of yourself as the dynamic player and marshal resources for yourself, the situation changes dramatically."

Karen Lau '98 starteddeveloping the women-in-business panel after the WLP Conference in early September, which featured similar discussion topics.

Lau and WLP Co-Chair Colleen T. Gaard '99, also a Crimson editor, cooperated to arrange last night's panel in an effort to bring those issues before a larger audience.

Women's Week

Last night's discussion was the third in a series of events celebrating Harvard-Radcliffe Women's Week, which began this weekend.

The initial festivities included a Radcliffe Union of Students Expo on self-expression and verbal self-defense, and a "Naked Grrrls' Brunch"--a clothing swap.

The Harvard Pre-Law Association is joining with the WLP to sponsor another leadership panel, "Women in Law: Challenges and Opportunities," which will take place at 7 p.m. tomorrow in Emerson 305.

Speakers will include Professor Lucie E. White of Harvard Law School and Judge Susan Garsh of the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Organizer Lauren A. Wetzler '99 said participants will address the challenges of balancing motherhood with a legal career.

According to Assistant Dean of the College Karen E. Avery, Women's Week is a way to foster interaction between undergraduates, faculty and alumnae, and enable undergraduate women to "learn from other people's experiences" and find strong female role models.

As a part of that endeavor, Avery and Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis '68 are co-sponsoring a holiday tea to conclude the week. It will be held in the Faculty Room in University Hall on Thursday, from 4-6 pm.

Tonight's event--a holiday party featuring card, bow and gift-wrap making, as well as collections to benefit Toys for Tots and Rosie's Place--is sponsored by the Radcliffe College Alumnae Association and Boston Recent Graduates. It will be held in the Cronkhite Living Room at 3 Ash St., from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.