The Missing 33%®- What Women Need to Lead

1 min read | Susan Colantuono

Portrait of a confident black businesswoman at work in her glass office

Too often mentors coach women on confidence and personality rather than business and financial ability.

Diversity Executive magazine recently interviewed Susan L. Colantuono, CEO of Leading Women. Below are excerpts from the interview. (Please share this important info liberally with colleagues in and outside your company and other women in your organization.)

"Can you describe The Missing 33%® of a woman's professional background that keeps her from reaching the top?

(R) Missing 33_-type treatment-VertAs women move up, we get to a point where future opportunities rest on our perceived potential for leading the business, not just leading the people. When determining whether a woman can lead the business, executives look for business, strategic and financial acumen. This is what I call The Missing 33%® of the career success equation for women — not because women don't or can't have business, strategic and financial acumen, but because very few women are clearly told how essential these skills are for reaching the top."  Read the entire article here.

And if you haven't seen it, be sure to... watch Susan's TED Talk on Closing the Leadership Gender Gap