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High Potential Women

Challenges                                                               
50% of Canada’s workforce is made up of women, but only 5% breakthrough to top leadership, according to Statistics Canada and Catalyst research on the Financial Post 500 CEOs. In the US, women represent 47% of the workforce yet just 4% breakthrough to become Fortune 500 CEO’s. 60% of all new Canadian businesses are started by women, yet less than 10% of women entrepreneurs breakthrough $1M revenue.  These are not new statistics but rather the stubborn, harsh reality, for most women in business leadership. At the start of their careers, 82% of women aspire to be senior leaders yet half-way up the corporate ladder women have already begun to drop out and at the top, women vaporize. Simply hiring more women hasn’t fixed the problem. Ensuring higher education hasn’t helped either—women now represent 60% of university graduates and more than 60% of the professions—lawyers, accountants, doctors, are women. The result is a significant brain drain and huge loss of talent, especially considering that women make up half the population and majority of decision-making purchasing power.
Women in the workplace at all levels face real challenges—challenges that most men are completely unaware of including:
  1. Career-building vs. Caregiving:  The average age for women to have their first child is 28, so while their male colleagues focus on career-building from late 20’s to late 40’s, many women are juggling babies and childcare.  Even single women say that they struggle with prioritizing personal relationships vs. career choices.
  2. Courage & Confidence:  Women are considerably harder on themselves and self-critical compared to men.  Men get promoted on their potential while women are promoted on their performance.  Women typically understate their success and career ambition.
  3. Connections & Champions:  The old boys club is entrenched and working well for men.  Whereas women tend to have fewer connections and are typically hesitant to ask others to actively champion them.
TED Talks- Sheryl Sandberg:
Why we have too few women leaders   (15min) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18uDutylDa4
At Executive Passage, we love working with high potential women who want to breakthrough to leadership—we’ve been there, we get it!  We provide coaching solutions that help women develop the courage and confidence, combined with powerful connections and champions to create their own ‘village of support’ to help them breakthrough to success.
Feedback from High Potential Women
We’re passionate about the work we do with high potential women. Our client work remains confidential.  However, from time to time, women  encourage us to share their experience, like Marnie Larson, CEO, StarGarden (below).  Thanks Marnie! 
Click here for more feedback from high potential women...
Cynthia’s perspective and directness made me clearly see where I wanted to take my career and gave me the confidence to take that next step.  I am in my current CEO role as a direct result of that mentorship and coaching process.                                                                                             -- Marnie Larson, CEO, StarGarden
Solutions-- Exclusively for Women
See some of our solutions below, or contact us directly to discuss your needs—every client is unique!
Breakthrough Leadership for Women – Five confidential 1-1 executive coaching sessions, a $1,625 investment, designed exclusively for high potential women in leadership and women in career transition, fully supported by your own CEO Executive Coach. Learn More...
Breakthrough Leadership Circle for Women – An exclusive program designed specifically for high potential women, five  facilitated group discussions and executive coaching with like-minded professional women, a $1,000 investment, will help you breakthrough to leadership and ensure you continue to grow and develop.  Learn more…
THE MERGER:  A perfect getaway for executive women–complete with overnight accommodation and on-site Certified Executive Coach and Strategic Facilitator.  Facilitated group discussion and connecting opportunities with a confidential group of 10-15 like-minded individuals providing support as you explore your own journey of leadership growth and development.  Learn more…