Dear Entrepreneur,
Welcome to the 13th issue of WomenandBiz.com!
We are discussing Diversity in business, in the workplace and in life. Our guest writers share their experiences, knowledge and thoughts about this theme. Jeannine Narcisse provides important statistics; Karin Vibe-Rheymer-Stewart brings to your attention how different cultures see time; Jill Kanter teaches how to provide constructive [...]

Men outnumber women in information technology (IT) leadership positions by as much as 72%! Granted, many women are leaving corporate IT positions and starting their own businesses (yeah!) but, new businesses do not account for the full disparity. So, what’s really going on here?
In a word: self-pity. I’m probably not going to make a lot [...]

Nowadays, most American business people dealing with their equivalent abroad are aware that there are differences in customs, and that some American customs can be seen as rude in other areas of the world: In Japan for instance, giving your card the way we do in the US, in passing and with a flip of [...]

Most people do not give much thought to how they communicate on a day to day basis. They’ve unconsciously developed patterns of speech and interaction that they feel pretty comfortable with and let it go at that. Some people know they have communications issues, because it’s been brought to their attention by a boss, friend [...]

Podcasting – a term that seems to have everyone buzzing. What is podcasting and why should you care?
What is Podcasting? A podcast is simply an audio recording that can be listened to online, on your computer or on a player. Many times this service is used for Internet Radio. The term podcast has no relation [...]

What can be done when we are forced to work everyday with people we do not like, or worse yet, with people who seem intent on ruining our day? Unlike a broken machine that we can unplug, the people we dislike most seem to be unstoppable. Yet there is a remedy, and it involves using [...]

When we look at the definition of the word “diversity” in the dictionary, we notice that the focus is on “difference”. However, the realistic and sensible definition of “diversity” ought to focus heavily on similarities and commonalities. Cultural diversity is a national theme as well as a great asset for America.
According to the US Department [...]

As the age of “Greed is good” has morphed into an “era of relationships,” so has the language we use. Terms and phrases evoking collaboration, cooperation, and working for mutual gain abound. You see it in the marketing pieces and hear it in the vernacular of small business owners. From a business point of view, [...]

Preparation: The Key to Constructive Feedback
Dear Jill,
I’m dealing with a sensitive issue with my administrative assistant. She delivers high quality work, but often arrives a little late to the office. I haven’t said much, because it hasn’t created any real problems, and I don’t want to come across as heavy-handed. We come from two very [...]

Living in a large city like New York we are faced with cultural and intellectual diversity everyday, particularly if we own our own businesses. Aspects such as language, protocol, education, and religion can be prime considerations for successfully reaching lucrative markets in our own backyard or beyond. But there are other elements that have been [...]

In 1963, 67 of the world’s largest corporations were based in the U.S. and only 5% of American businesses faced international competition.
In 1996, 33 years later, only 24 of the world’s top corporations were based in the U.S. with 29 of them based in Japan. And 75% of the American industries faced international competition.
Nowadays all [...]

Valarie King-Bailey – Background
OnShore Technology Group was established as a multi-divisional organization whose mission was to help keep technology jobs on America’s shores through the delivery of mission-critical technology, engineering, and marketing services. Our business model evolved in response to the wave of offshore outsourcing that affected many technology and engineering professionals and our deep [...]

When I started reading Janet Hanson’s book, More Than 85 Broads – Women Making Career Choices, Taking Risks, and Defining Success ON THEIR OWN TERMS, I couldn’t put it down. By reading personal stories of 95 women coming from all walks of life and nationalities, I was inspired. I was also amazed by Janet’s personal [...]