Corporate Canada still a ‘struggle’ for women: Sherry Cooper
By BERTRAND MAROTTE via The Globe and Mail
Tuesday, Jan. 15 2013
Women continue to struggle to break through the glass ceiling in the senior ranks of corporate Canada, says outgoing Bank of Montreal chief economist Sherry Cooper.
Asked on the CBC radio show The Current with Anna Maria Tremonti if women today following in her footsteps still face more difficulties than their male colleagues in reaching the top, Ms. Cooper replied: “yes, I think so. I’m not naïve any longer.”
“Women are still a very small minority of executives and board members,” said Ms. Cooper, who blazed a trail for women on Bay Street over the past three decades.
“It’s still a bit of a struggle.”
The women who do make it must put in an “outstanding performance,” whereas there are many men at the same level who are mediocre performers, she said.
The big banks have come a long way in terms of human-resources policies aimed at diversifying the executive ranks, but they lag behind many professions such as law and medicine, said Ms. Cooper, 62.
Vestiges of the old boys’ club, locker-room climate remain, she said.
“Guys play hockey on Wednesday nights and golf on the weekends and women don’t feel welcome in that environment.” Read full article>>