There's no question that women have had a lasting impact on our nation's history and continue to do so today, as women are more influential than ever before through the business and leadership roles they hold.
To celebrate the accomplishments of prominent women in business and leadership, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) kicked off its recognition of Women's History Month with a special teleconference with U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney. Congresswoman Maloney led a thought-provoking discussion based on her book, Rumors of Our Progress Have Been Greatly Exaggerated. She talked about the steps women—including lesbian, bisexual and transgender women—can take to make real progress on women's and LGBT issues in their homes, communities, workplaces, and with elected officials. If you were not able to participate in the teleconference, click here to listen to the recorded call.
NGLCC's Women's History Month appreciation concludes with a special interview with three influential women in the NGLCC's greater business and chamber community—ally Carolynn Brooks, vice president and chief diversity officer at NGLCC corporate partner, Office Max, whose headquarters is based in Chicago, Ill.; Nicole Carry, business owner and president of Hampton Roads, Va.-based NGLCC affiliate chamber, Hampton Roads Business OutReach; and Ann Dunkin, owner of Vancouver, Wash.-based NGLCC-certified business, AED Consulting LLC.
In a series of question-and-answer sessions, BIZ asked these women to share their stories about the opportunities and challenges of being women in today's business and leadership worlds.
BIZ: What kind of business do you own and how did you get into this line of work?
Ann Dunkin: Between us, my business partner and I have more than 30 years of experience as corporate employees in engineering, management and information technology. We started AED Consulting LLC as an engineering and information technology consulting firm. One day we realized that we knew a lot of extremely talented people who were available as consultants and whom we could use to provide value by bringing those people together to do projects. We decided to create a company that would provide individuals and groups of senior people to solve tough technical problems in product development and information technology.
But customers don't always behave the way that we expect! Once we were out on our own, people started calling us to do something else that we'd done in the corporate world—diversity work. At the moment, the majority of the work that we do is diversity consulting. We help employee resource groups develop sustainable organizations. Right now we're helping groups rebuild after layoffs and divestitures. We've also been collaborating with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates on training, especially around transgender issues.
We're thrilled to have the opportunity to run a business where we can perform two very different types of work that we're equally passionate about.
BIZ: What kind of business were you in prior to taking your leadership role at the chamber, and have you continued to be in that business as you carry out your role at the chamber?
Nicole Carry: I am a senior computer-engineering consultant, and I have a fitness franchise business. I continue both jobs while I'm also working at Hampton Roads Business OutReach.
BIZ: How did you attain your position at Office Max?
Carolynn Brooks: I started out in human resources, where I worked for 15 years. When I started at Office Max in 2001, I was in HR, and then I started my current position in 2006.
When I think about what I'm doing now, I feel like it kind of chose me. I see diversity and inclusion as a way to manage the talent we have here, so when we got a new CEO, I proposed to him that we develop an office of diversity, and that's how it all started. Now I am responsible for workforce diversity, supplier diversity, EEO, affirmative action and community relations.
BIZ: What would you say has been the most challenging aspect of being a woman business owner? What about the most rewarding or fulfilling?
Dunkin: Many of our customers are technology companies and, even within non-technology companies, we often deal with technical groups. While things have changed a lot over the years, technology is still male-dominated and that is even more the case with the executives who are making decisions about whether to hire us. It's still true that women have to work harder than men to be respected and taken seriously, so that is a challenge, but we just see it as an opportunity to prove ourselves.
The most fulfilling thing about being a woman business owner is bringing together great people to deliver outstanding results for our customers. Once we start a project, most customers forget about anything other than results. Being able to provide stellar results, regardless of how easy or hard it was to sell the work, is very satisfying.
BIZ: What are the most challenging and the most rewarding aspects of being a woman in a leadership role such as yours at the chamber? Has being LBT presented different or similar challenges in your chamber leadership role?
Carry: Some of the most challenging aspects have been getting organized and creating effective processes for such a new organization, while staying focused on moving forward and growing the organization. The most rewarding have been those fabulous events that inspire and impress our new guests to join our organization, [making it] a valued resource to pivot their businesses. I think, overall, being LBT has presented more of a challenge than being a woman in business. Some of the more conservative people and groups in Hampton Roads have not been willing to entertain anything associated with LGBT. Yet, as long as I represented myself strictly as a woman, I was readily accepted.
BIZ: What challenges have you faced being a woman in the corporate world? Have you found that being a woman in the corporate world can also have its advantages?
Brooks: I think women in general look at their interpersonal skills as an edge over men, but it's important to make sure that everything we do ties back to our business strategy. I always want to make sure that what we're doing isn't about being "warm and fuzzy," but about getting things done.
I do think that our intuitive interpersonal side gives us a chance to really engage our teams to help us build a stronger team approach to get the work done. I think I know how to be hard when I need to be, but I can also soften it, too. As I like to say, if I'm presented with a door, I'm not going to kick it in, but if you open it, I'm coming through.
BIZ: Why did you decide to certify your business through the NGLCC?
Dunkin: We received our certification fairly recently, in September of 2009. We decided to certify the business with NGLCC because we felt it would give us the opportunity to make contact with companies that value LGBT diversity enough to include that in their supplier diversity programs. We believe that companies that have embraced LGBT supplier diversity are some of the best companies to work with—they tend to be the ones that are doing really innovative things in many areas, not just diversity. Without NGLCC certification it would be virtually impossible for a small company like ours to navigate the procurement processes of these large companies.
BIZ: How has your NGLCC certification benefited you and your business?
Dunkin: Certification has definitely opened some doors for us. We've talked to corporate procurement teams that would not otherwise be accessible to us. We believe that it will continue to add value as we grow the company.
BIZ: In today's political and economic climate, how would you describe the overall perception of and attitude toward women in business and leadership roles? What about LBT women?
Dunkin: I think that women continue to gain ground in business but there are still huge challenges. For every woman who is extremely successful, there are probably 10 with just as much capability who aren't given the same opportunities as their male peers. I do think that woman entrepreneurs and those in corporate roles where job performance has very concrete and indisputable metrics are reaching equality faster than other women. When results are clearly obvious, most people will reward the individuals who deliver results.
LBT women in business continue to have more challenges than other women in business, but I think the same rules apply. If LBT women have an opportunity to prove themselves in measurable ways, both as employees and business owners, their contribution is usually valued and respected. However, it is often more difficult for LBT women to get that first opportunity than it is for other women.
Society is realizing an increasing value from women in the business world, but we still have a long way to go before all women can contribute as fully as men all the time. Groups like NGLCC are helping to level the playing field by opening doors that traditionally haven't been open for women and LGBT business owners, and are giving LGBT-owned businesses opportunities to prove themselves.
Carry: Ironically, some conservatives think that lesbian women are more equipped to be in the business world based on their misunderstanding and presumption that lesbian women are more masculine. But overall, I feel the businesses and people I encounter on a day-to-day basis embrace me for who I am and consider my lifestyle and business accomplishments as mere facets of the total package.
Brooks: I think this is our time. Women are more prepared than ever, and I feel like this is our time to take advantage of the opportunities that are there. Women such as Nancy Pelosi and First Lady Michelle Obama are in important leadership roles that reflect the opportunities. In general, women are getting stronger opportunities in the business world because they have more of a voice.
We have women who work at Office Max who are lesbian, and they feel like they have an opportunity to be who they are. Our focus here at Office Max is to make everyone feel that they can bring their whole selves to work. But I don't think there's an apparent difference between lesbian and straight women in terms of the challenges that they face here in the business world. Any issue a woman might face in a leadership role, I think those issues and challenges can also face lesbian women.
BIZ: The Obama administration has been working to help small businesses, even setting aside loan and grant opportunities specifically for women-owned and minority-owned businesses. What do you think this means for women- and LGBT-owned businesses in terms of where the administration has placed its focus?
Dunkin: I haven't been following the administration's small business initiatives closely. Like many people, I've been busy following the health care debate, as I believe that health care reform is critical to the future of our country and will have a huge impact on all businesses. From what little I've seen, I believe that the intent of the president's plans to help women-owned and minority-owned businesses is right on the money. As with any government program, the proof is in the implementation. If the loans and grants get to the intended beneficiaries without excessive red tape, the programs will be successful.
Carry: I hope this is the first step toward fully recognizing the LGBT business community. The day has come for us to take this opportunity to deemphasize our differences and enter into the mainstream business market without seams.
Brooks: Whether it's minority- or women-owned businesses, I hope they see the help from the administration as progressive opportunities, and that they have a plan on how they can use these opportunities to their advantage. I think right now the most important thing is to make sure they have a strong business plan and strong leadership ability.
