Comments on: Jack Welch in Context…Did You See the Speech? http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/07/17/jack-welch-in-context-did-you-see-the-speech/ The quest for flexibility in a rigid world Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:28:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Nancy http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/07/17/jack-welch-in-context-did-you-see-the-speech/#comment-754 Nancy Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:20:05 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=662#comment-754 I did not attend the conference, either, and since I am currently in China I can't view the video on our slow network connections. I am, therefore, addressing only the emotions the soundbites are churning in me. I began my career in 1980, when women did not yet enjoy enforcement of fair labor standards. I have seen biased treatment at its ugliest and most base, and also have seen men to rose to a higher standard of behavior than many around them. Later when I began raising children, I was fortunate to have a husband who did share in the raising 50-50. We both made sacrifices, depending on the timing and our job positions, for our children. We were honest and straightforward with our employers, and made sure we never collected a paycheck we didn't more than earn. I have the greatest respect and admiration for my husband because he made our children a priority. In some ways, his parenting skills exceeded mine. In other ways, mine exceeded his. We have a daughter with high self-esteem, in no small part because she spend a great deal of time with her father. We both hold positions of leadership in multinational corporations. Luckily, not all CEOs share Jack's perspective. Some recognize that if we are to enjoy all the top talent and the decision-making excellent that can only result from diversity in all its forms, our paradigm of career has to shift. Surely it has been long enough since WWII for us to realize women are a workforce to be reckoned with. I hesitate to take advice on this particular issue from someone with such low family values. Not once, but twice, Jack Welch began new relationships before ending the current one. The first time - he disrespected his wife of 28 years, leaving his children to cope with the wreckage. I did not attend the conference, either, and since I am currently in China I can’t view the video on our slow network connections. I am, therefore, addressing only the emotions the soundbites are churning in me.

I began my career in 1980, when women did not yet enjoy enforcement of fair labor standards. I have seen biased treatment at its ugliest and most base, and also have seen men to rose to a higher standard of behavior than many around them. Later when I began raising children, I was fortunate to have a husband who did share in the raising 50-50. We both made sacrifices, depending on the timing and our job positions, for our children. We were honest and straightforward with our employers, and made sure we never collected a paycheck we didn’t more than earn. I have the greatest respect and admiration for my husband because he made our children a priority. In some ways, his parenting skills exceeded mine. In other ways, mine exceeded his. We have a daughter with high self-esteem, in no small part because she spend a great deal of time with her father.

We both hold positions of leadership in multinational corporations. Luckily, not all CEOs share Jack’s perspective. Some recognize that if we are to enjoy all the top talent and the decision-making excellent that can only result from diversity in all its forms, our paradigm of career has to shift. Surely it has been long enough since WWII for us to realize women are a workforce to be reckoned with.

I hesitate to take advice on this particular issue from someone with such low family values. Not once, but twice, Jack Welch began new relationships before ending the current one. The first time – he disrespected his wife of 28 years, leaving his children to cope with the wreckage.

]]> By: China Gorman http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/07/17/jack-welch-in-context-did-you-see-the-speech/#comment-603 China Gorman Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:52:42 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=662#comment-603 Leanne: 1) I agree with Laurie. :-) 2) Remember who was interviewing Jack and what the topic of her just published book was. I love it that this conversation is raging right now. HR should be considering the talent pipeline in total to determine where the next generation of leaders is coming from and the next and the next -- preparing their organizations for sustainability and future success. And if the way we manage talent now isn't working then changes should be made! What do you and your readers think need to be changed to create a different reality than the one Jack describes? Thanks for such a great commentary, Leanne. Leanne: 1) I agree with Laurie. :-) 2) Remember who was interviewing Jack and what the topic of her just published book was.

I love it that this conversation is raging right now. HR should be considering the talent pipeline in total to determine where the next generation of leaders is coming from and the next and the next — preparing their organizations for sustainability and future success. And if the way we manage talent now isn’t working then changes should be made! What do you and your readers think need to be changed to create a different reality than the one Jack describes?

Thanks for such a great commentary, Leanne.

]]> By: laurie ruettimann http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/2009/07/17/jack-welch-in-context-did-you-see-the-speech/#comment-590 laurie ruettimann Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:51:29 +0000 http://www.careerlifeconnection.com/blog/?p=662#comment-590 Your husband is the luckiest man in America! Your husband is the luckiest man in America!

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