Women in business

The phrase women in business covers the history of women participating in leadership roles in commerce.

Katharine Graham became the CEO of The Washington Post company in 1972, making her the first female CEO of a Fortune 500 company. In her memoir, Graham outlines the personal struggles that she faced as a woman in such a high position at a publishing company. She constantly doubted herself and would often look for reassurance from male colleagues. Graham played an integral part in the success of the Washington Post. During her three decades of leadership, revenue grew nearly twentyfold and the Washington Post became a public corporation listed on the .

Ursula Burns was named CEO of Xerox in 2009. The then $17 billion industry leading company was run by Anne Mulcahy, who chose Burns as her successor. This transference of leadership was the first time a female CEO chose another female CEO to succeed her. There are currently only 5 African American CEO’s heading Fortune 500 companies and amongst them Burns is the only female. By accomplishing this she defeated the odds that many young women of color are facing today. “Many people told me I had three strikes against me: I was black. I was a girl. I was poor.” Burns climbed the ranks from an intern at the company in 1980, to president in 2007, CEO in 2009 and then chairman in 2010. During her position as CEO Burns lead the acquisition of Affiliated Computer Services. The $6.4 billion purchase is the largest asset purchase in Xerox history. That acquisition has aided Xerox’s progression into becoming the technology and services enterprise it is today. Xerox’s Services business accounts for over 50 percent of the company’s revenue. Xerox also continues to maintain its top spot as market share holder with its Document Technology business.

As of 2016, women only account for only 20% of all S&P 500 directors despite making up 47% of the U.S. workforce and controlling about 75% of household spending and more than 50% of personal wealth in the U.S. There are around 2 women per board, with the average S&P 500 board consisting of 11 members. As of 2014, females make up only 14.6% percent of executive officers and 4.6% of fortune 500 CEOs. In 2015, women held 17.9% of the board seats on Fortune 1000 companies, showing the disproportionate gender representation on corporate boards of directors. While the number of women on Fortune 500 corporate boards continues to rise, the average rate of increase is only one-half of one percent per year. One in nine in the Fortune 500 list still doesn't have any women on their board.

...
Wikipedia