The impact of gender on economic growth...from my other blog...

From the World Economic Forum, 2014http://webcasts.weforum.org/widget/1/davos2014?p=1&pi=1&a=53309This is something to behold...so thanks to the BBC.  Much of it resonates with me, and almost as much of it bugs me.  Women as, almost definitionally, peacemakers would be something that bugs me. Not that women aren't, but there's more to women than warm hugs, and I think too often the discussion stalls on the special softness that women bring to business--a disservice in my books.  They get past it...brilliantly in many cases. (Upon watching for a third time, I realize my impatience with the same things needing to be addressed each time is a direct result of having come from a culture that already recognizes females and males as having equal rights, so I'm just noting that as a reminder that we should check our backgrounds as they relate to these issues...as our backgrounds are so different from those of girls growing up in smaller, developing economies).

The panelists four influential people, some of the 'heavy-lifters' I've been reading about in the last two years of looking at business practices:

• Sheryl Sandburg is the COO of Facebook, 

• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Executive Director of UN Women, 

• Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund

• Carlos Ghosn, Chairman and CEO of Nissan and Renault

Moving away from the stereotypes of women; and onto the facts that there's half the population that simply shows up less frequently in the workforce, especially in leadership is important to me.  They cover the gamut and I was riveted by every question and each response.

Please comment if you feel likewise, or differently- I like hearing different viewpoints on the matters these five have discussed (I'm including the reporter)

I liked Christine Lagarde's challenge to not call men and women members of the opposite sex...and then her deferent beginning, "If you'll allow me...".  She says it's a battle that we all need to fight, and win, in the world's best interest; but then proceeded to set women and men in opposition with "as good/ better at" etc...kind of language-- which is when I get ruffled.  What would happen to our discussion if we simply said "women make excellent managers" etc... A push for excellence, regardless of gender, seems like a more appealing argument to me.  And they get there--

I really liked Ghosn's point on education, coaching, mentoring, of girls and women--along with the agreements from the rest of the panel.  Measurement, and accountability come up too, which is always something I cheer over. At 30 mins in, or so, he brings it back around to diversity--more diverse=stronger companies and stronger countries.

Cheers...