Is There More to the Marissa Mayer Story?
The Yahoo! telecommuting ban story may be more nuanced than we know. “Marissa Mayer Is Wrong.” “Horrible Bosses: Marissa Mayer’s Ban on Telecommuting at Yahoo Won’t Work.” “Marissa Mayer’s Work-From-Home Ban Is the Exact Opposite of What CEOs Should Be … Continue reading
Mayer and Yahoo Lead a Necessary Shift in the Workplace
Yesterday, Yahoo announced the appointment of Marissa Mayer as its new CEO and she became the first ever pregnant CEO of a Fortune 500 tech company. Yahoo’s decision to look past Mayer’s pregnancy reflects a big shift in the way corporate … Continue reading
Share Your Ideas to Advance Women
This week started off with the announcement of Marissa Mayer’s appointment to CEO at Yahoo! Within a few hours, this young, smart, trailblazer announced that she was pregnant and was to become a first-time mom. This is big news! And … Continue reading
It’s Time for Companies to Accommodate the Modern Family Reality
By Betsy Myers – Former COO of the Obama Presidential campaign and Founding Director, Center for Women and Business, Bentley University In a recent Atlantic Monthly article that exploded across the internet, Princeton professor and former State Department director of … Continue reading
Myers Aims to See More Women in Corner Offices
The Boston Globe by Kathleen Pierce Betsy Myers pulls no punches when she explains why 50 to 70 percent of US workers are unengaged with their work. “Let me tell you what your day is like,” she tells aspiring leaders … Continue reading
Moving Conversation to Action
Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business – Inaugural Forum – April 27, 2012 With close to 500 business leaders, students and community members in attendance, the forum showcased corporate leaders who spoke openly and honestly about the challenges they … Continue reading
Lead Through the Chaos
My trip to Lagos with YPO (Young Presidents Organization) brought several interesting insights. Nigeria is still considered a developing country and is 10 years behind what most Americans have come to take for granted. The country has an extreme level of poverty and deals with issues such as access to clean water and power. Even in the best hotels, the power often shuts down for minutes or hours. Life is a daily grind for most of the Nigerian people who live in survival mode. Continue reading
Culture of Empowerment
I have been in Nigeria for three days as a guest with the Young President’s Organization). As part of my trip, I spent a few hours with the Managing Director of DHL here in Nigeria, Randy Buday. He is responsible for managing the Western countries in Africa. He is an American originally from the Los Angeles area who has lived and worked in Africa for 30 years. Continue reading
Top Leadership Books of 2011
2011 has been an exciting year with the completion of my book and many opportunities to talk to people around the country about the lessons in leadership I’ve gotten throughout my career. I’m grateful to have learned from some of the best leaders in business, politics and academia and I share those stories on the pages of my book. Continue reading
CEO’s Philosophy on Women & Mentoring
Betsy Myers’ interview with Denise Morrison, president & CEO of Campbell Soup Company from a keynote luncheon at the 8th Annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women. One of only 14 women CEOs in the Fortune 500, Morrison discussed her philosophies on leadership and confidence, the role her family played (and plays) in her success, and how strategic career moves can help women advance to the C-suite. Continue reading
Get Real. Find Joy.
When she was four years old, my daughter, Madison, often saw her friends leaving their after-school program to go to soccer, ballet, piano, and other activities. One day, when I picked her up from preschool, she said, “Mommy, please don’t overschedule me. I just want to play after school and relax on weekends!” Continue reading
Leading Innovation
Like so many others affected this week, the sad passing of Steve Jobs, the technology guru and giant, made me step back and think. We now look back at the innovations and leadership he brought to his industry and the people who worked for him. Continue reading
Betsy on Bloomberg Radio
Betsy sits down with Bloomberg’s Kathleen Hays to discuss her new book, TAKE THE LEAD: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You. The interview dives into the book’s key concept of “Authentic Leadership” and Betsy shares firsthand stories from her days in the White House and on the Obama campaign. Continue reading
School of Life
Last night I was helping my daughter with her hair. We started talking about starting school, how fast the summer had gone and how it is hard to believe that she is already 9-years-old and starting 4th grade. I told her how exciting this time is and all the wonderful things that lie ahead in her life. Continue reading
New Center Focuses on Equality for Women in Business
I decided to take the new role at Bentley University as the Founding Director of the Center for Women in Business. Why? As I have traveled the country over the past three years speaking on leadership with a variety of corporations, I kept hearing the same concerns… It is 2011. Why aren’t we doing better in the area of women retention and promotion? Continue reading
Leadership in Times of Heartbreak
We said good-bye to Elizabeth Edwards last month. I have thought so much about her strength and courage in the final few years of her life. She left behind her precious children Kate 28, Emma 13 and Jack 10. Seems like only yesterday when John and Elizabeth Edwards arrived in Washington when John was elected the new U.S. Senator from North Carolina. Elizabeth played a significant role in Senator Edward’s career and his subsequent runs for president in 2004 and 2008. Continue reading
Leadership Close to Home
My younger sister, JoJo, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in late September. She discovered a lump in her left breast one morning. My family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer so we all hoped it was nothing. … Continue reading
Getting into the Spirit
I was asked to attend the Southwest Airlines annual Halloween event in Dallas this year. I also had the pleasure joining Gary Kelly, CEO, President and Chairman of the Board of Southwest Airlines as a judge at the event. This 25-year tradition of Halloween festivities is part of their company culture. The headquarters literally shuts down (except for those responsible for the planes in the air) for a day of Halloween fun and department competition. Continue reading
Michigan’s First Gentleman Leads the Way
On May 19, The University of Michigan hosted a leadership symposium called “ Profiles in Leadership: Conversations with Betsy Myers and Michigan Leaders.”
I moderated a panel on how to create successful women leaders. The panel consisted of several amazing women, including University of Michigan Dean of Education, Deborah Loewenberg Ball and Eastern Michigan University General Counsel, Gloria Hage. Michigan’s First Gentleman, Dan Mulhern, also participated. He is married to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. Continue reading
Small Acts of Leadership
During my visit to Taiwan, I was able to visit two of the county Governors, Hsi-Wei (Joe) Chou from Taipei County and Chiu-Hsing Yang of Kaohsiung County. I observed in both leaders a similar leadership style where people matter.
Each governor hosted a leadership forum in their county that included speeches, a panel discussion about leadership and a luncheon banquet. What struck me was how I learned about their real authentic leadership style. It was not by the remarks given at the leadership forum or by the hospitality shown at the celebration banquet but rather by observing small acts of humanity that shone a light into their REAL leadership. Continue reading
Treasures from Taiwan
As I stood in the airport in Taipei, Taiwan saying goodbye to my new friends, Nicole Hsieh and Joanna Chang, I suddenly felt emotional. We had just met 3 days before but had spent almost every waking minute together during my short trip there. I had come to speak at a leadership forum that also included a nonstop schedule of lunch and dinner banquets, press interviews, panel discussions and meetings with prominent business owners, politicians and women advocates. Continue reading
Leading Kentucky
On May 4, I went to Kentucky to speak at a women’s conference for an organization called, Women Leading Kentucky. A former colleague, Janet Holloway, had a dream over a decade ago to start an organization for women to create networking, business and leadership opportunities. This was her annual conference. We had known each other during the Clinton Administration when she was president of the small business development centers. Continue reading