The Secret Lives Of High-Tech Women

Do women really think the playing field in corporate America is level? It is an intriguing question and one you get different answers to based on whether you are having an on-the-record conversation or a private one. When we asked dozens of high-ranking women to fill out an application for our "Most Powerful Women Of The Channel" list in CRN's sister publication VARBusiness, we included one question they could answer anonymously. Of course, it related to their secret thoughts about equality, and based on this treasure trove of commentary I thought it would be interesting to see what women really think of the workplace today. It is an especially hot topic given Sen. John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. What follows are some excerpts.

	ROBERT DEMARZO
Can be reached via e-mail at rdemarzo@everythingchannel.com.

This comment certainly set the tone for how many of the respondents felt: "The playing field is set up for men to succeed but clearly women can succeed if they work hard and compete hard," said one executive inside a large software vendor.

A level playing field may exist at one company but not another, said another executive who remarked, "Over the years it has improved. I think it depends on the company and the people. I think as a woman you need to be counted as a person and if you don't treat yourself as an expecting woman you get treated like everyone else." An executive who works at a fast-growing vendor agreed: "It depends on the company—some places yes, some places no."

This next comment captured a bit of frustration: "In the U.S. we have focused on equality for women and have missed the powerful diversity we bring to leadership styles and outcomes." Her comment was echoed by many. Progress is being made, though, according to another respondent: "I don't believe it is level today, but we are working toward that day. There are more and more women making headway in industry and I believe men are certainly respecting women executives in a way they haven't in the past." Said another, "I still find myself as the only woman at executive-level meetings ... Is the boy's club so tight that it's still the status quo?"

In a software company where it seems women outnumber men, we received this on whether there is equal opportunity: "Absolutely—particularly if women support each other." From one woman who rose to the executive suite, we get this perspective: "I do think the playing field is level by gender in our industry. Great leaders excel by maximizing [their] differences; gender just happens to be one of them." I hope her PR person didn't write that!

Golf, cigars and scotch? Yes, the boy's club still exists, insists another exec, especially at large companies. "It's our responsibility as women to make this industry a better place for the women that come after us," she wrote. "Women must work twice as hard to achieve success because the path is filled with subtle obstacles."

"Absolutely not," was the answer from an executive whose career aspiration is to become a CEO. "Women of today are still pioneers," said another.

Well, readers? How level is the playing field? E-mail SVP and Editorial Director Robert C. DeMarzo at rdemarzo@everythingchannel.com.