I've been tapped on the shoulder by an invisible but powerful presence this week. She won't leave me alone, and she won't stop pointing out all the things she thinks need some attention. She never did take no for an answer, and she's not going to start now. The torch has been passed, which means it's more than time to address the next iteration of a too-familiar topic. Women. Specifically, women in power (the few) and those who want to be (the more-than-a-few) in an industry that expends vast amounts of time and money marketing and selling to... women.
I found a few spare moments to gobble up the April addition of JCK Magazine, the self-proclaimed (and accurately so) "Industry Authority." It contained the usual run of interesting articles, personnel updates, and beautiful, glossy images of beautiful, glossy jewels. It also featured their "Annual list of 50 (or so) CEOs, retailers, designers, and tastemakers who shape and innovate the jewelry and watch biz." Their words. Direct quote, headline, page 78.
Now, the numbers game:13 of the 53 total names are women.
Long before I opened the book, I knew the number would be low. As a proud member of the Women's Jewelry Association I'm well aware of the industry stats on female leadership, but I'm lucky enough to live in a woman-centric bubble: with our original store owner now slowly working his way into retirement, we are an all-female workplace -- owner, Master Bench Jeweler, staff.
So perhaps my current situation, combined with a personal history of female empowerment from strong family role models and a terrific single-gender high school experience, has tucked me into a comfortable little world in which girls really do run the world. I assumed that slightly less than half of those named would be women, because I know so many who embody all those fine traits listed in the tagline. I can't even begin to describe my shock at the actual results, but perhaps not in the way you might think.
I'm not at all convinced that the poor showing of women on this list has much, if anything, to do with a gender bias on the part of the listmaker(s). While I would personally nominate a handful of women not mentioned in this round, I have come to the rather obvious conclusion that there simply aren't enough women in leadership positions to choose from. Certainly all of those named deserve to be there, so the sad fact now stands underscored by such a ridiculously poor showing: if there were more lady leaders, they'd be on that list. That's a painful conclusion to reach.
In an eerily relevant conversation with a friend just this week, I lamented the large gap I perceive in my own ability to influence versus be influenced. I noted that my long-term ambitions involved becoming a "mover and shaker" or "tastemaker" or "respected authority" in this industry, and that I felt the impatience frequently associated with my generation to make progress towards such a goal.
In reality, of course, progress is made in tiny steps every day. But who wants to crawl when skipping and jumping looks like such fun?
Well, this list certainly brought reality calling -- wind from sails, and all that. Not that I feel somehow defeated; just the opposite. I'm more determined than ever to increase the number of women on that list, through a combination of strong and vocal advocacy of female leadership and by a more personal degree of... one.
I can stomp and shout, stand on my proverbial soapbox and preach equality and courage (all for one! Vive la femme!), or pen verbose blog posts about my life (#careergoals?) in hopes of inspiring myself and others to work harder, climb the ladder, and shake the tree.
I can also remain steadfast in my vision, work harder, self-motivate, learn more, reach out, and support the women and men around me who work tirelessly to better the world, the industry, themselves.
P.S. You can, too.