A $12T Opportunity and its Exploits | When Women Run Companies | Why Sports Metaphors Are Terrible
Good morning, friends, and Happy Saturday.
I posted a new article on women's equality today on LinkedIn.
Usually when I write about this topic, 80% of the comments are supremely positive and supportive, or inspire thoughtful debate. The other 20% are from folks who are two sandwiches short of a picnic.
I imagine they look like this:
Anyway, read it and let me know what you think.
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A special welcome to a whole bunch of new subscribers. You're in for a treat. See back issues here.
This week, in edition #20 of the World's Best Newsletter:
1. A $12 Trillion Female Empowerment Narrative Opportunity and its Exploits
2. When Women Run Companies, More Women Advance
3. Why Sports Are A Terrible Metaphor for Business
4. How to Sell to Early and Late Stage Adopters
5. Steve Jobs: When Marketing/Sales People Take Over Companies
6. How to Frame Political Discussions for those Seeing Red
7. Who's hiring
8. Quote of the week
1. A $12 Trillion Female Empowerment Narrative Opportunity and Its Exploits
Audi is getting pushback on its Superbowl ad for exploiting women's equality, while having zero women on its management board and only 2 out of 14 on its executive team. In my latest post, I write about this hypocrisy and the global economic opportunity of the women's movement.
2. When Women Run Companies, More Women Advance
Countless studies have proven that as more women climb to the tops of corporate hierarchies, their being there helps other women advance. Duh. Read more.
3. Why Sports Are A Terrible Metaphor for Business
Because the logic of competition and success is completely different. The dynamics of talent and teamwork are completely different. The creation of economic value is completely different. Read the full HBR article.
4. How to Sell to Early and Late Stage Adopters
Everett Rogers's Diffusion of Innovations segments buyers by their proclivity to purchase innovative software. The early and late majority segments comprise 68% of the market, and these buyers don’t buy software the way early adopters buy software.
"The fattest part of the market often demands more education, more handholding, more social proof through case studies & references, and a relationship with a salesperson or account manager to feel comfortable with the purchase. These buyers might also rely on industry analyst reports like Forrester and Gartner to substantiate a purchasing decision and minimize their career risk. Remember, you’re in the business of selling promotions and many businesses value continuity over innovation."
Read this excellent article by Tomasz Tunguz, Venture Capitalist.
5. Steve Jobs: When Marketing/Sales People Take Over Companies
This 2.5 minute interview clip with Steve Jobs is worth it.
"At companies with monopoly position over market (Xerox, IBM), product people get driven out of decision-making forums, and forget what it means to make great products."
6. How to Frame Political Discussions for those Seeing Red
Fascinating look at how to morally reframe an argument.
“We tend to view our moral values as universal, that there are no other values but ours, and people who don't share our values are simply immoral. Yet, in order to use moral reframing you need to recognize that the other side has different values, know what those values are, understand them well enough to be able to understand the moral perspective of the other side, and be willing to use those values as part of a political argument.”
Read on.
7. Who's hiring in my network
As always, let me know if you'd like a referral, or have jobs to promote.
Project manager, Aha Media Group, working alongside the fabulous Ahava Leibtag
A "get things done marketer" to manage PR, Events, Task Management, and Social at Category Design Agency, sent to me by old buddy Mike Damphousse
My client, Building Engines, is seeking a Product Marketing Manager. Smart team, good people, interesting space.
8. Quote of the week
"Hi, New York Times? I'm calling about a CEO with a vagina. Available immediately for comment."
I was chatting with PR expert Katelyn Holbrook (with whom world domination is imminent) about a strange expectation for female CEOs to earn press simply because they're female. I know it's a hot topic right now, but, news flash, you've got to have a little more to offer the press to make a story. Your lady parts aren't quite enough. I'm sure they're lovely, but they're probably not headline-worthy.
Be good to each other, out there.
Katie
www.katie-martell.com
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Catch me February 16th at 11:00am EST for a live webinar - 3 Ways to Improve B2B Demand Gen with the Power of Relevance, sponsored by Evergage.
