The Most Powerful women in business, as recognized by Fortune, aren't just powerful for their gender. They're powerful period. They help to run companies we all recognize like Ebay, Pepsi Company and Xerox.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports in 2006, women accounted for more than half of all workers in high paying management positions.
It may be a jungle out there, but Tarzan's been de-throwned, and that includes here in Central Illinois.
Women have come a long way since the time of Rosie the Riveter and Joan of Arc...just ask Oprah or Hillary.
Women take on many roles, they're high-powered execs, workingwomen, fashion icons and life long friends...In other words they try and do it all.
"Am I confident? Yes. Am I passionate about my job and my family? Absolutely."
Mary Bynum is the Bloomington Customer Response Center Director for State Farm. There are more than 300 employees under her direction.
There's no hugging in firing. I've fired and hugged before, I'm a hugger,"
"I'm here to fix things.
"It used to be the old boys club. And you talked about the glass ceiling. You see a lot more women on the golf course now."
Stephanie Calahan is the founder and CEO of Calahan Solutions.
In the television show "The Lipstick Jungle, you see scenes like this: "I heard you threw a little fit. When a woman expresses her concerns, she's not throwing a fit; she's doing her job."
"What I've seen in women is that they're not apologizing for the difference in their strength and determination," said Calahan. "I don't back down from those situations."
"It's definitely a different dynamic working in a predominantly male environment, but I've never felt any pushback."
Carmen McCarthy is a Marketing Communications Consultant with Simantel. She is currently embedded at Caterpillar. No question these women are driven, and have put in the hours to succeed. Both at work, and at home.
"I intentionally built the structure so the things that were important in my life took precedence."
Mary Bynum is the State Farm CRC Director and said, "I'm very fortunate to have a husband who's very engaged in our home life, and understands the importance of work and life and the importance of my career."
"Don't expect life to go your way because it sure as heck is not going to."
Mistakes can be a really great way to learn.
They have it together, but when in need, they will lean on other women for support.
We've been there done that so we can relate and help offer advice.
It's a group of amazingly fabulous women. And I can reach out to any one of them at any point in time and say, you know what, I'm stuck with this.
It's a Lipstick Jungle out there, and Jane's in charge.
McCarthy said, "Gender is just a step along the path. We are really putting our focus on what it is we do well and we're being successful at it."
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