Women in the News
PINK knows you love to see women succeed as much as we do! Check out these newsworthy (and history-making) women:
IN THE VICTORY LANE
On April 20, 2008, Danica Patrick (pictured above in a spread from the November 2006 issue of PINK) became the first woman driver in history to win a major race when she finished first in the Japan Indy 300. The 26-year-old Wisconsin native has finally reached her racing goal: to be a winner. With this victory, Patrick is able to silence the critics who have accused her of capitalizing on her beauty and perpetuating female stereotypes. She also proves that she deserves her spot on a first-rate racing team, as well as her share of high-end endorsements and respect in a male-dominated sport. Following her win, an emotional Patrick said, "I feel like a wuss crying, but it's been a long time coming." Wuss or not, Patrick has made sports history by capturing the checkered flag.
eBYE-BYE
One of the most powerful women in business, eBay's high-profile CEO, Meg Whitman, 50, has announced she will retire at the end of March 2008. When Whitman joined eBay 10 years ago, she said that no CEO should hold the same position for more than a decade because organizations need new challenges and perspectives. At the time, eBay had 29 employees and operated solely in the United States. Today it's global with more than 11,000 employees and $6 billion in revenue. No need to worry about Whitman's financial security, though. Since October she has sold 2.56 million shares of eBay stock, reaping profits of around $40 million.
DON'T CRY FOR ME PAKISTAN
The Muslim world's first woman leader – and one of the few women leading nations worldwide – Benazir Bhutto, 54, was assassinated on December 27, 2007. Prime minister of Pakistan, Bhutto was a deeply polarizing figure, twice elected prime minister and twice expelled from office amid corruption charges that forced her into self-imposed exile in London until recently Despite the controversy surrounding her ethics, she had many supporters in her country – and the backing of the U.S. Bhutto, daughter of one of Pakistan's most charismatic and democratic prime ministers, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, returned home this fall to lead the populist Peoples Party she inherited from her father – and led demonstrations in opposition to President Musharraf. She was assassinated by a suicide bomber while leaving a campaign rally for the PPP.
FIRST LADY OF MEDICINE
Nancy C. Andrews, M.D., Ph.D., who recently became the first female dean of Duke University's School of Medicine, is the only woman to lead one of the nation's top 10 medical schools. Previously Andrews headed research in Harvard Medical School's pre-clinical sciences departments. "My goal … was to identify and recruit the best candidate in the country for this position, and it was clear to us early on that Dr. Andrews was that person," says Victor J. Dzau, M.D., president and CEO of the Duke University Health System. "I look forward to working with Dr. Andrews to further Duke's academic excellence and to advance my commitment to ongoing efforts to increase diversity within Duke Medicine leadership and faculty."
SPACE INVADER
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has become the first woman to command the International Space Station. Whitson and two crew members arrived at the orbiting outpost in mid-October to begin their mission, which will install three new modules and increase interior space. Whitson takes over from the previous commander, Russian Fyodor Yurchikhin. "I'm looking forward to getting additional modules because storage has become a little bit cramped," says Whitson, who served on the station as flight engineer for six months in 2002.
A HEALTHY CHOICE
Lois Quam, recently named managing director of alternative investments at Piper Jaffray, will head development of new business opportunities in the alternative energy, clean technology and healthcare sectors and will oversee equity investment offerings in these areas. Formerly CEO of Ovations, a $25 billion division of UnitedHealth Group, Quam brings a wealth of experience in tackling healthcare issues. "Arriving at equitable and effective solutions to difficult problems has been at the heart of everything I've done during my career," she says. Andrew Duff, CEO and chairman of Piper Jaffray, says he has found a perfect match in Quam: "Based on her outstanding record of professional accomplishment, Lois is uniquely qualified to extend our global capabilities in healthcare and clean technology – an area of strong opportunity for our company."
A BEAUTIFUL PROMOTION
Recently named president of Avon Products Inc., Elizabeth Smith will now oversee the company's global supply chain and global information technology. She previously served as executive vice president and president of Avon North America and global marketing. "Liz has played a key leadership role in Avon's turnaround since joining the company three years ago," says Andrea Jung, Avon's chairman and CEO. "She has been instrumental in setting the company on the path to sustainable growth and has significantly elevated analytical and operational rigor. Aligning our product-to-market functions under a leader of Liz's caliber will help us accelerate the global integration of our key business processes and technology."
WOMAN AT THE WHEEL
Chrysler LLC recently named Detroit native and former PINK panelist Deborah Meyers as its first chief marketing officer. Meyer, 44, is the former vice president of marketing for the Lexus Division at Toyota Motor Sales and previously worked for the Ford Motor Co. In her new role, she'll be responsible for marketing and advertising initiatives for the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep brands globally, and will oversee sales promotions and brand events. Bob Nardelli, recently named chairman and chief executive of Chrysler by its new owner, Cerberus Capital Management, describes Meyers as "a great addition to the leadership team [who] brings a proven track record of success to support our brands both in North America and internationally."
INDIA GOES PINK
Winning by almost a two-thirds vote, Pratibha Patil was recently elected India's first female president. Patil, who had the support of the governing Congress Party, now joins the ranks of other powerful women from India – including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Although Patil's election is considered a victory for the women of India, they still face widespread discrimination and often suffer from neglected healthcare and proper education. According to the Hindustan Times, Patil is a social worker by profession and previously worked as a lawyer. She also served in Congress and Parliament. Patil was sworn in as India's 13th president on July 25, 2007.
AN "ATTRACTIVE" MOVE
Trudy Sullivan will leave her position as president of Liz Claiborne Inc., where she has worked for six years, to become the new CEO of Talbots Inc. She will replace retiring CEO Arnold Zetcher in August. Sullivan came to Claiborne from J. Crew and served as group president, supervising the heritage Liz Claiborne brands. She has been president of the company since 2006 (later that year its board opted not to promote her to CEO). In a recent statement, Sullivan called Talbot's age 35+ consumer target "the most attractive consumer segment in apparel."
YAHOO! FOR SUSAN DECKER
Susan Decker, previously head of Yahoo!'s advertiser and publisher group has been named president of the company and many industry insiders believe she is being groomed for the CEO position. Decker joined Yahoo! As chief financial officer in 2000 and played a leading role in two of Yahoo!'s key strategic initiatives including the formation of the partnership with eBay.
"Sue has played a broad and important role in driving our strategy over the years and has shown even greater skills and leadership with the success she's had in taking on more operating responsibilities," said Terry Semel, former CEO of Yahoo! in a recent statement. As president, Decker will assume leadership of Yahoo!'s business operations, which include the advertiser and publisher group along with the Yahoo! network and international operations.
TAKING IT TO THE BANK
This may be the year of the pig, but 2000 seems to be Ranjana Clark's decade. She was recently chosen to lead Wachovia's new marketing division as well as join its corporate operating committee. The new marketing division will encompass corporate marketing, e-commerce, market research, customer service and innovation. Clark joined Wachovia in 1989 and was appointed president of Wachovia's treasury services division in 2001. From 2005-2006 Wachovia's Clark – who spoke at one of last year's PINK conferences – moved from being one of U.S. Banker magazine's top 25 women to watch to one of the top 25 women in banking.
CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
Andrea Wong, previously responsible for such hit programs as Dancing with the Stars and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, has been named the new president and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services, the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. Wong joined ABC as a researcher in 1993, rising in the ranks to executive vice president of Alternative Programming, Specials and Late-Night, and is noted for heading successful programming, most recently taking the critically acclaimed Wife Swap and Supernanny into their third seasons.
AND THE AWARDS GOES TO...
Harvard University Professor Susan Athey is shaking up the gender gap in the world of Economics. Recognized not only for her major contribution to empirical economics, econometrics and economic theory but also for the feminine touch she adds to them, she just became the first woman to win the John Bates Clark medal in the award's 60-year history. The addition of Athey's name to this impressive list will help raise the startlingly low percentage of female professors in the economic field.
A HEALTHY INITIATIVE
Angela F. Braly will soon become WellPoint's president, CEO and a member of the board of directors. As of June 1, 2007, she will become the 12th female CEO of a top 500 company. But this isn't her first stint as a corporate leader: She was formerly CEO and president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri. Her vast experience in the healthcare industry will serve her well as she takes the reigns of the nation's largest health insurer.
WE'RE LOVIN' HER
McDonald's, the world's leading foodservice retailer, recently named Janice L. Fields its new COO. Also EVP, she is one of the most powerful women at this super-sized global corporation. She currently directs restaurant operations for 13,700 U.S. restaurants.
FROM INTERN TO PRESIDENT
Ursula M. Burns was recently named president of Xerox and appointed to the company's board of directors. Not bad for someone who started out as a summer intern for Xerox 27 years ago. Now at the helm of the world's largest supplier of office printers, copiers and related services, Burns has overseen the addition of more than 100 new Xerox products in the last three years.
GAP'S NEW GAL
Marka Hansen, former president of Banana Republic, has been named president of Gap North America. Hansen succeeds Cynthia Harriss, who has left the company. In her new position, Hansen will lead all aspects of the business in North America, including Gap, GapKids, babyGap, GapMaternity and GapBody. Hansen began her career with the company in 1987 as a merchandise manager for Banana Republic.
PRESIDENT CLINTON?
PINK recently compiled a list of nine women well-positioned to take on the White House. One of these women, cover woman Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, has already announced her bid for the presidency. And after the mid-term elections, the number of women in high-powered political positions has grown. The 109th Congress had 14 women senators and 67 representatives. The new 110th Congress has 16 women (11 Democrats and five Republicans) in the Senate and 71 women (50 Democrats and 21 Republicans) in the House of Representatives. But can the country comfortably make the switch from Mr. to Ms.?
MS. SPEAKER (OF THE HOUSE)
Nancy Pelosi, a Democratic U.S. Representative from California, has shattered what she calls the "marble ceiling" of Congress by becoming the first female Speaker of the House. In 2002, she became Democratic Leader of the House of Representatives, making her the first woman in Congress to lead a major party. Now that Democrats have taken control of the Senate, Pelosi has been propelled to Speaker – the third seat from the presidency. A mother of five children, Pelosi is now ranked as the country's top elected Democrat.
A REFRESHING NEW FACE
PepsiCo Inc., the world's second-largest soft-drink company, has announced that Indra K. Nooyi, its current CFO, will be replacing Steven Reinemund as CEO upon his retirement on October 1, 2006. Born in India, Nooyi has effectively climbed the American cooperate ladder and will now join an elite group of 11 female CEO's running Fortune 500 companies. PepsiCo's fifth CEO in its 41-year history, she will be the first woman in the position. Prior to joining PepsiCo in 1994, Nooyi served as the SVP of Corporate Strategy and Strategic Marketing for Asea Brown Boveri.
KRAFTY LADY
The world's second largest food and beverage company, Kraft Foods Inc., recently named Irene B. Rosenfeld its new CEO. One of PINK's 2006 "Next Female CEOS," the former President of Kraft's North American business led the integration of the $19 billion Nabisco acquisition. Prior to her new position, she was CEO of Frito-Lay.
WOMAN IN CHARGE
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), one of the world's largest agricultural processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa, recently named its new CEO, ex-Chevron executive Patricia Woertz, making it the largest publicly traded U.S. company headed by a woman.
NEWSWORTHY NEWSCASTERS
The longest serving co-host of NBC's "Today" show, Katie Couric recently announced her decision to leave NBC for CBS News, where she will be Anchor and Managing Editor of "The CBS Evening News With Katie Couric." She will also contribute to "60 Minutes" and anchor CBS News primetime specials. Couric, who will become the first woman in history to solo-anchor an evening news program, will be replaced at "Today" by Meredith Vieira of ABC's "The View," whose spot will be filled by Rosie O'Donnell.
MADAME PRIME MINISTER
Portia Simpson Miller made history this past March when she took oath as Jamaica's first female Prime Minister. Prime Minister Miller joins 11 other female heads of state, including two who took office this year – Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia.
FROM BURGER-FLIPPER TO CEO
One of PINK's 2006 "Next 20 Female CEO's," Claire Babrowski fulfilled our prediction when she took over as acting CEO of RadioShack Corp., when former CEO David Edmondson stepped down amid suspicions about the veracity of his resume. Babrowski, who was RadioShack's executive vice president and COO since June 2005, started out as a McDonald's crewmember at age 16 and advanced over the next 30 years to become its highest-ranking female executive, president of International Operations. Babrowski left RadioShack in August 2006.
