By Léo Charbonneau. Relevant to this discussion is the fact that there has been a high turnover of university presidents in the past few years (an issue we recently covered in University Affairs). By my count, 56 new presidents have been appointed since 2009, a turnover at the top of well over 50 percent in four years. Did we use this opportunity to hire more women?
Yes, in fact. In a blog post I wrote in the spring of 2009, I counted 14 women university leaders, with two more female appointments scheduled to take effect within a couple of months. So, as of August 2009, there were 16 women heading what were then 94 member institutions (17 percent, or roughly one in six). Depending on how you look at it, then, the current numbers aren’t so bad. A rise from 16 to 22 women in four years is nearly 38 percent. On the other hand, women still account for fewer than one in four university presidents. More...

Blog Educpros d'Isabelle Barth. « La femme serait vraiment l’égale de l’homme le jour où, à un poste important, on désignerait une femme incompétente. »
Personne n’a mieux résumé que Françoise Giroud  la question de l’inégalité dans le milieu professionnel. Elle nous rappelle que le pouvoir dans les milieux économiques, politiques, militaires est détenu par les hommes. Et observe que les femmes n’y ont pas accès sauf à être « hyper-compétentes ». Enfin, elle sous-entend que les hommes qui occupent ces postes n’ont peut-être pas eu la même exigence de compétence. Suite...

By Ann Adjie Shirley-Henderson. After a few drinks with male scientists at a bar, I was hit with the question, “So what do you babes in the sciences want?” The quick answer I gave, after suppressing an obscenity, had to do with creating a level playing field. But that’s not what I really want. I want retribution, remuneration, and recognition, right now. But I would settle for an even split between male and female scientists in all favorable factors for success, immediately. More...

By Barbara Orser. In the introductory lecture of my entrepreneurship class, I present students with two scenarios. In the first, each student is described as having a brilliant idea for a new business. Optimism and experience leads them to believe that it is a ‘sure fire’ winner. A question is posed: “Who is willing to pursue business start-up?” Hands are raised. More...

By Joshua Kim. Have you been following the discussion about the absence of women in top positions at Twitter?
According to the NYTimes coverage on the Twitter IPO:
"The board? All white men. The investors? All men. The executive officers? All men but for the general counsel, Vijaya Gadde, who has had the job for five weeks."
The lack of women in leadership roles at Twitter mirrors larger trends in the tech industry. Read more...