Profile of Women Leaders

Leadership is based on two words, "pressure andone will take them seriously so they have to push
support"and that the leadership is the power toand make themselves known to the world and allow
influence people to move in a direction that youthe world to see their capabilities while male owners
believe in your heart is a good direction for mostdon't have to worry about the struggle of fitting in
people" (Fennell, 1999, p. 267). Adams and Yoderand trying to live and work up to societies standards
noted that "evidence from contemporary studies onbecause since they are men they are already have
sex-roles and leadership indicates that men andthe macho man persona and the alterego that men
women, with similar education, career aspirations andhave.2. Women have to fight harder and be stronger
training, have basically identical scores on measures ofif they want to live and work in a man's world you
psychological masculinity and femininity." In otherhave to adopt to the surronding don't expect a man
words, the traits we assume are important in goodto be a gentlmen and hold the door open for you,
leadership can be found among people of bothdon't expect him to do anything out of the ordinary
genders.What makes a leader is a complex question.that a man would do for a female because in a
It includes factors from the environment in which ansense you should be getting treated like his fellow
individual was raised, his or her family situation, andcounterparts and not expect differently. In order to
his or her personality traits. . The following discussionfit in with the men you have to in a sense think,
is a summary of my own observations plus some ofwork and act like them meaning don't think that they
the conclusions of othersAccording to an overviewwill treat you like the female you are. You have to
of research conducted by me ,women are abe strong not every man that you encounter will
fast-growing segment of the business communitytreat you like this but in order to show off your
worldwide. The leadership characteristics required tostrengths you should expect this.3. It's extremely
make a success in this new reality are very muchobvious that women have come a long way as
"feminine characteristics". These characteristicssuccessful professionals. Life in the workplace has
include:1) Self-confidence, an independent mind-setbecome much more diversified as an increased
and a willingness to take risksnumber of women have made their presence felt in
2) Ability to balance work and family (most aremany industries and professions. The female task
married)force has expanded with exponential strength, and
3) Self-confidence, an independent mind-set and athus has its dire importance in the professional world.
willingness to take risksWhether they like it or not, men have to accept,
4) About 40 to 60 years oldonce and for all, that women are marching up the
5) Well educated with high skills in management andcorporate ladder confidently and with full speed
entrepreneurshipahead.4. Women used to be much more "quiet and
6) Integration of personal and professionpassive" in the workplace due to the relatively small
7) Intuitionnumber of female employees in comparison to males.
8) Social skillsWomen today, on the other hand, have begun
9) Directionassuming their positions by using all their God given
10) -Hires competent, trustworthy people (notpowers of intelligence and organization. Warren Farrell,
putting priority on loyalty)author of Why Men Are the Way They Are, explains
11) -See communication and conflict resolution asthat men are jealous of the "beauty power" that
key to organizational successallows women to get certain things based on their
12) Men and women tend to lead in differentphysical assets. Perhaps it's less that women use their
ways.Namely, women leadership strategy is based onbeauty, and more likely that men judge them based
family pattern. It means thaton their physical beauty5. The reasons that people
women tend to view solving problems differentlystart and lead business among women is to bring in
than men. Women tend to be more holistic in theirand focus on a clientele of mainly women. Most times
thinking.women start business that deal with products that
13) Leaders must be conscious of what is perceivedwomen use, such as clothes, makeup and home
by others and develop strategies that are proactiveproducts. The most successful companies run by
in building success. Marcano (1997) described this aswomen are ones that use women's special skills.
"know thyself" and further stated that it is importantThese special skills are style, fiscal sense and public
to be honest and objective when evaluating yourrelations. Their strengths as business owners are their
strengths and abilities, as well as your goalspublic relations and the clientele they bring in. There
14) Continual professional growthweakness as business owners is the overcoming of
15) Leaders need to have a clear sense of their ownsexism that exists. There biggest fear is finding
vision and beliefsResearching - Case study of Serbiaclientele that will due business with a women.. I think
I presented the latest results of researching relatedthese men feel this way because they are insecure.6.
to women leaders and their position in the businessI simply think that women just became even more
world,i.e. how does people look at ( divided intosmarter. Speaking from a personal point of view, I
sex,ages and level of education) women leaders andknow that being happy and successful are very
if they trust them. My scientific task was to makeimportant to me. They go hand in hand. Most of the
some conclusions and to point out some specialwomen I know feel the same way. I believe that as
characteristics of Serbia and Balkan region. We canthe years progress women will be involved in an
see different opinions related to our questions :even bigger part of the economy, because young
Do you trust to women-leaders? Could they begirls are going to follow their female role models.7.
equaly successful in business world like men?-Personally I feel that some high qualified positions are
Methodology- Interviews conducted from 1.476better suited to a women because men have
people ,726 women and 750 men- Interviewedhumungous ego problems8. I personally think that
people were between 18 and 60 years old- In thewomen can do whatever men do sometimes better.
whole structure of respondents 30% were owners-there have always been a glass ceiling for women in
73 % were married ,19 % single and 8% divorced.- Athe work force however, many women are getting
few key findings are listed below:- The barriers tocloser to this ceiling and some of them has at least
women's advancement in business are remarkablyattempted to break through this ceiling. the reason
similar across Balkan region and the biggest cities inmany people think that women are not capable of
the Serbia- Belgrade ,Novi Sad and Nis.- The womenbeing in the work force is because of the conotation
respondents trust to women leaders ( 63 %) andthat has been here for like for ever, "women should
most of them prefer to work in some firm where isstay home and take care of the home".9. We need
a woman leader or executive manager.Also theyto stop complaing about how much work we have or
think that the women want to reach the top, andhow hard it is and just complete. The more we
are equaly ambitious like men.- Most respondentscompain about the work, the more the man is going
(60%) say that Corporate Culture is the mostto say that things should go to how they used to be
significant barrier to women achieving top executivein the old days, which was The man works and when
positions, while only twenty-nine percent (29%) thinkhe comes home he gets treated as if he is
work/family balance is a significant barrier tosomething golden and special while tlelign us we are
advancement and 36% believe that a lack ofworthless. The woman can not go to work becuase
self-promotion holds women back from achievingshe needs to stay home with the children and cook
top-level positions- The majority of men in researchand clean the house. I am glad i live in this century
had negative attitude against women executives. Inbecuase honestly i do not know how i woud've been
other words they expressed stereotypes andable to live up to those expectationsAt last we can
preconceptions about women's roles and abilities inconclude that the woman are now much more
business. Men stress that women have lack ofmotivated and ready to reach their professional
general management experience ,lack of skills anddreams and be leaders ,not only in Serbia and Balkan
knowledge and lack of role models.Respondentsregion , but all over the world then they once were.
among men almost gave the similar replies related toUntil recently, entrepreneurship was considered by
our questions as a following :1.We are here Balkanmany to be the last bastion of male dominance in the
and we are argue for traditional model of society2.business world. This is no longer true. More
Women have been fighting for equal rights for nearlybusinesses are now being started by women than
all of time and now that they have it they expectare being started by men. However,there are still a
special treatment because they are femaleslot of men who don't think women should be in these
.positions and hold no respect for them at all. As time
3.I do not trust women in business and I do notgoes on, women are going to be a bigger and bigger
accept them seriouslypart of the business world, and these men are just
4.I am afraid of those womengoing to have to accept it and face a reality check,
5. I hate feminist community and culturebecause no matter what they feel and how much
6. Women must stay at home and be leaders inthey are against it, the world is changing and it's
their families but not in business word. Leader positiongoing to happen regardless of how they feel.Mirjana
in business is reserved for menRadovic, Ph.D.,Program Director of Master
7. Women leaders are actually men dressed likeProgram,"ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR WOMEN"
women-Akamai University,USA
It is very interesting that a great amount of men dogo to link
not make difference between women leaders andThe topics of the program include affirmative action,
women feminists ,who are not very popular in thisaccess to debt and equity capital, the growth of
region. And about 20 % of women respondents inwomen-led businesses in non-traditional sectors,
the research share mentioned opinion with the men.work-life balance and the development of resource
About 10 % of men respondents are afraid ofnetworks. Thie program is especially suited to women
women domination in the business world,because itwho want to own or assume a management position
could change natural balance between women andin a women-owned business. It also is intended for
men and to decrease traditional role of the men instudents who are prospective entrepreneurs and
society and family.Therefore, they would not likethose interested in being entrepreneurial supporters
domination of the business women in the 21 st(bankers, venture capitalists, lawyers, accountants,
century.private investors, advisers and inventorsDr. Radovic
It is also very indicative that among young womenhas spent over twenty years as a scientist. She has
(18-35) exist the great interest for leadership andbeen a professor, a researcher and an author of
entrepreneurship and they more than earlier exploreeight books devoted to business management and
opportunities to reach their professional goals.entrepreneurship. Dr. Radovic has written numerous
Namely, they expressed their opinion with thearticles, reviews and essays in a number of
following words:1. Female owners and leaders haveprofessional journals and popular magazines.
more of a struggle because they are females and no