7 deadly myths about women in business

7DeadlyMyths about

Women in Business

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women are badat negotiating.

Myth

1

FACT:Women negotiate just as well asmen, when theplaying fieldis levelled.

Nice Girls Dont Negotiate & Other Gender Myths. Horacio Falco. INSEAD Knowledge. June 2014.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/nice-girls-dont-negotiate-other-gender-myths-3414

Why the gender pay gap does not reflect the 'choices' women make. Lisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2016.

Women also ask for araise as often asmen. But men are 25% more likely to begiven one than women.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/08/dispelling-the-myths-why-the-gender-pay-gap-does-not-reflect-the-choices-women-make

Why the gender pay gap does not reflect the 'choices' women make. Lisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2016.

Negotiation is usually associated with agentic, masculinebehaviour. When employers negotiate with women, theytend to offer less and are more likely to resist influence attempts.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/08/dispelling-the-myths-why-the-gender-pay-gap-does-not-reflect-the-choices-women-make

Women are good negotiators. Female-associated behaviours, such as supporting others, curiosity, cooperation, and convincing, are increasingly regarded

as important negotiation techniques.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/nice-girls-dont-negotiate-other-gender-myths-3414https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women with children will not have time to meet leadership obligations.

Myth

2

Are Womens Leadership Assumptions Holding Them Back? Xiaowei Rose Luo. INSEAD Knowledge. March 2016.

FACT:When it comes to leadership anddecision-making, quality trumps quantityor the amount of timespent behindthe desk.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/are-womens-leadership-assumptions-holding-them-back-4600

Are Womens Leadership Assumptions Holding Them Back? Xiaowei Rose Luo. INSEAD Knowledge. March 2016.

Workplace flexibilityand family-friendly policies attract better talent, which raises productivity.

http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/are-womens-leadership-assumptions-holding-them-back-4600

I became very organised [after having children], creating a strict schedule and allocating specific times for work and for family. I have continued this same

discipline upon returning to work.

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women lack the confidence to lead.

Myth

3

FACT:Women and menhave comparableleadershipambitionsand

careeraspirations

at the start of their careers.

Its not lack of confidence holding women back, its the myths we tell ourselves. Lisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2012.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/08/its-not-lack-of-confidence-holding-women-back-its-the-myths-we-tell-ourselves

But as women progress in their careers, they report a combination of obstacles that wear down their confidence overtime.

Its not lack of confidence holding women back, its the myths we tell ourselves. Lisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2012.

not being able to imagine

fitting into the stereotype of success

not being able to access the

career flexibility they need

not receivingimportant

sponsorshipfrom influential

leaders

These often cited obstacles include:

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/08/its-not-lack-of-confidence-holding-women-back-its-the-myths-we-tell-ourselves

A Simple Exercise Can Help Women Overcome Self-Doubt to Succeed. Zoe Kinias. Harvard Business Review. August 2016.

Womens self-doubt is a product of the environmentthe long-term societal influence and the broader business landscape. Bolstering self-confidence makes people moreresilient, but we alsoneed to improve theenvironments thatundermine women.

https://hbr.org/2016/08/a-simple-exercise-can-help-women-overcome-self-doubt-and-succeed

The Leadership Development Programmehelped me put myself and my life into perspective, understand and value my strengths. I also learnt to accept my

weaknesses and to ask for support when I need it.

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women executives are unsupportiveof other women.

Myth

4

FACT:65% of women whoreceived careerdevelopment support

aredevelopingnew talent

compared to56% of men.

Paying It Forward Pays Back for Business Leaders. Catalyst. November 2012.

http://www.catalyst.org/media/paying-it-forward-pays-back-business-leaders

And 73%of the women developing new talent are developingother women, comparedto only 30% of men.

Paying It Forward Pays Back for Business Leaders. Catalyst. November 2012.

http://www.catalyst.org/media/paying-it-forward-pays-back-business-leaders

In my previous job, I was the most senior woman in the Middle East, so one would think that investing in my network of female colleagueswouldnt bring benefits. Yet two of my biggestbreaks came through the support of other

women. Dont compete, join forces.

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women donthave what it takes to be entrepreneurs.

Myth

5

FACT:Womenentrepreneursrose by nearly 10%in 2013 compared to a 3.3% increase in men takingthe entrepreneurial leap.

5 entrepreneurial myths debunked. Josephine Fairley. The Telegraph. January 2015.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-business/11340080/Womens-business-advice-5-entrepreneurship-myths-debunked.html

2016 BNP Paribas Global Entrepreneur Report. BNP Paribas.

Companies led by women entrepreneurs had 13% higher revenues than those

run by men and finished 9% above the

average.

https://group.bnpparibas/en/news/bnp-paribas-global-entrepreneurs-report-2016

Starting a business is a time-intensive commitment that impacts not only you but also everyone in your lifemake sure that you do your research and

assess the risks before diving head in.

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

Women are bad at math.

Myth

6

Cross-Cultural Analysis of Students with Exceptional Talent in Mathematical Problem Solving. Titu Andreescu et al. AMS. Vol. 55, No. 10

FACT:Its not a

matter ofbiology: the

maths-gendergap, where it

occurs, is due to cultural factors

that differ among countriesand they

can be changed.

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/10math_report.pdf

If you really think you are good with numbers, then you really are. At work, my boss started to take me seriously when I showed him

my 730 GMATscore.

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/executive-master-in-finance?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/executive-master-in-finance?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

It wont be long before women catch up with men in business.

Myth

7

FACT:Women are less likely toreceive their first critical promotion to manager and are less likely to be hired into more senior positions, puttingfewer women on theleadership path.

Women in the Workplace 2016 McKinsey & Company; Lean In Foundation.

http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace-2016

Women in the Workplace 2015 McKinsey & Company; Lean In Foundation.

If the slow progressover the last three years continues, it will take 25 years to reach gender parity at the senior VP level and more than100 years at the C-suite.

http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace

Work with and through alliesincluding men! The best strategy is to create a coalition of managers, mentors and peers who recognise that the issue [of gender bias]

exists, and work with them to tackle the problem head-on.

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If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far thatyou cant hear them anymore.


At INSEAD, diversity includes supportingand empowering women in every way:

Annual INSEAD Women inBusiness Conference

INSEAD Celebrates Women

Scholarships for Women

Women in Business Club

Women@INSEAD

https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/mba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802https://www.facebook.com/INSEADWomenInBusinessClub/?ref=page_internalhttp://chartingherownpath2017.peatix.com/viewhttps://sites.insead.edu/mba/schlmgmt/index.cfm?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802http://mba-clubs.insead.edu/women-in-business/https://centres.insead.edu/women-at-insead/

INSEAD is also a proud partner of:

Fort Foundation

Professional Womens Network

http://www.fortefoundation.org/site/PageServer#.WL5dThKGO34https://www.pwnglobal.net/https://www.insead.edu/master-programmes/gemba?marketingSource=DP_Slide_DP_7myths_womensday_42802

REFERENCES (in order of citation)Nice Girls Dont Negotiate & Other Gender MythsHoracio Falco. INSEAD Knowledge. June 2014.http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/nice-girls-dont-negotiate-other-gender-myths-3414

Dispelling the Myths: Why the gender pay gap does not reflect the choices women makeLisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2016.https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/nov/08/dispelling-the-myths-why-the-gender-pay-gap-does-not-reflect-the-choices-women-make

Are Womens Leadership Assumptions Holding Them Back?Xiaowei Rose Luo. INSEAD Knowledge. March 2016.http://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/are-womens-leadership-assumptions-holding-them-back-4600

Its not lack of confidence holding women back, its the myths we tell ourselves.Lisa Annese. The Guardian. November 2012.https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/08/its-not-lack-of-confidence-holding-women-back-its-the-myths-we-tell-ourselves


REFERENCES (in order of citation, continued)A Simple Exercise Can Help Women Overcome Self-Doubt to SucceedZoe Kinias. Harvard Business Review. August 2016.https://hbr.org/2016/08/a-simple-exercise-can-help-women-overcome-self-doubt-and-succeed

Paying It Forward Pays Back for Business LeadersCatalyst. November 2012.http://www.catalyst.org/media/paying-it-forward-pays-back-business-leaders

You can start a business and here's how. Five entrepreneurial myths debunked.Josephine Fairley. The Telegraph. January 2015.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-business/11340080/Womens-business-advice-5-entrepreneurship-myths-debunked.html

2016 BNP Paribas Global Entrepreneur Reporthttps://group.bnpparibas/en/news/bnp-paribas-global-entrepreneurs-report-2016Full Report: https://wealthmanagement.bnpparibas.com/public/dx/news-2015-11-05_en/%24FILE/2016%20BNP%20Paribas%20Global%20Entrepreneur%20Report.pdf


REFERENCES (in order of citation, continued)Cross-Cultural Analysis of Students with Exceptional Talent in Mathematical Problem SolvingTitu Andreescu et al. American Mathematical Society. Vol. 55, No. 10http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/10math_report.pdf

Women in the Workplace 2016McKinsey & Company; Lean In Foundation.http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/women-in-the-workplace-2016Full Report: https://womenintheworkplace.com/Women_in_the_Workplace_2016.pdf

Women in the Workplace 2015McKinsey & Company; Lean In Foundation. http://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/women-in-the-workplaceFull Report: https://womenintheworkplace.com/Women_in_the_Workplace_2015.pdf


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7 deadly myths about women in business

Leadership & Management