• About
  • Article PDF
  • White Papers
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Advertising & Sponsorships
Friday, July 1, 2022
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
Times Of Entrepreneurship
Growth and Equity for a Changing World
Times Of Entrepreneurship
No Result
View All Result

Editor’s Note: Killer Business Moves … That Backfire On Women

by Elizabeth Macbride
June 10, 2021
in Women Entrepreneurs
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
woman leaning against a brick wall in a white jacket

Three killer moves in business … that backfire on women

There’s a well-known phenomenon in business, whereby a man who is bold and asserts himself is seen as a leader, and a woman who is bold and asserts herself is seen as a bitch. Women get caught in a Catch-22 – either you’re a weakling or a bitch. Research established that about a decade ago.

Here are three more rules of the business world that hold true for men but in my experience can backfire for women – not always, but often.

  • Be humble and give credit where it’s due. A few months ago, as I was in a studious frame of mind bent on making a successful transition from business journalist to author and CEO, I was looking at the tweets issued by my co-author Seth Levine. He was typically humble (He is a humble and fair person, so entirely authentic). I sent out a few humble tweets myself. But whereas his got a lot of love, mine laid there like dead fish. My theory: Being humble or self-deprecating makes men look good. The problem for women is that people believe it when you say you couldn’t have done it alone.
  • Opportunity knocks. Reach out and grab it. This is a particularly pernicious one. But I believe there’s a mating rule that leeches over into the business world. If you reach at an opportunity as a woman, you’re seen as desperate. My biggest deals have come when I inadvertently played hard to get: I was too busy to take a call. That doesn’t mean women should fake being busy, but maybe be more open about how busy you are.
  • Create a sense of urgency. This one, I realized in a recent conversation with Allison Long Pettine, an investor and founder of Ad Astra. While some of the classic fundraising advice is “create a sense of urgency by telling investors you are about to close the round” works for men, not so much for women. We hardly ever believe we’ll be able to close a round (this is entirely rational, given the amount of investment women get). So pretending we are closing a round comes across as just that: a pretense. VCs, sniffing out inauthenticity, back away.

So what’s the answer? I don’t have one. The only thing I know for sure that helps is when women share these lessons with each other, and men listen. The root of the word “gossip,” is the same as “gospel.” So you have to wonder if gossip came to be maligned because it was a female form of communication. Pass it on, sister.

For more inspiring stories, insights and actionable funding opportunities, subscribe to Times of E’s weekly newsletter, www.timesofe.com/introduction.
Tags: Editor's NoteElizabeth MacBride
Elizabeth Macbride

Elizabeth Macbride

A business journalist for 20 years, am the founder of Times of Entrepreneurship and the co-author of The New Builders.

Related Posts

Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

by Elizabeth Macbride
June 19, 2022
0

This interview is one of a series of Women Entrepreneurs sponsored by YPO. You can see an interview of BankMobile...

Commentary: Women Now Face Pressure To Look Beautiful Everywhere They Go. Here’s How To Set Them Free.

Commentary: Women Now Face Pressure To Look Beautiful Everywhere They Go. Here’s How To Set Them Free.

by Shelley Hon
April 6, 2022
0

Shelley Hon (Photo Credit: Courtesy of Shelley Hon). Women have faced pressure to look beautiful since the beginning of time....

Black woman against a backdrop of West African spices

A West African Spice Company Comes into its Own as Flavors of Long-Overlooked Region Hit U.S. Tastebuds

by Nina Roberts
March 22, 2022
0

POKS Spices Founder Abena Foli. Photo illustration by Nina Roberts It’s becoming more common to see grains, chips, beverages, sauces...

A STEM Woman Needs a Stylish Steel Toe

A STEM Woman Needs a Stylish Steel Toe

by Nina Roberts
March 7, 2022
0

Anastasia Kraft photo illustration by Nina Roberts Female engineers working in manufacturing or construction go back and forth between office...

woman leaning against a brick wall in a white jacket

Editor’s Note: What the Kremlin wants

by Elizabeth Macbride
March 7, 2022
0

I’ve been watching the headlines about Ukraine. I’m horrified at the violence and death, I’m in awe of the courage,...

blonde woman in black

Advice for Women Raising Money for their Social Ventures

by Skyler Rossi
February 21, 2022
0

Melissa Bronfman Times of E reporter Skyler Rossi interviewed Marissa Bronfman on Jan. 19 about a new impact fund she’s...

Subscribe to Times of E’s Free Weekly Newsletter

Learn about the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders

Popular

  • Commentary: Women Now Face Pressure To Look Beautiful Everywhere They Go. Here’s How To Set Them Free.

    Commentary: Women Now Face Pressure To Look Beautiful Everywhere They Go. Here’s How To Set Them Free.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 20 U.S. University Entrepreneurship Competitions, 2021

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Venture Capital Returns Are More Skewed Than People Realize

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Out Of Delta Dirt, A Bright Clean Splash Of Hope: A Sweet Potato Distillery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Commentary: Authenticity Is Women’s Most Powerful Weapon in Raising Funds. Here’s How To Tap Into It.

    1 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Recent

woman leaning against a brick wall in a white jacket

Editor’s Note: Times of E is on a reduced publication schedule

June 23, 2022
Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

Newsletter: Varsity Blues, redemption stories and women-led finance

June 23, 2022
Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

Video: Armory Square Ventures’ Sawhney On The Rise of Upstate NY

June 19, 2022

Recommended

  • Health
  • Climate
  • Deep Tech
  • Finance
  • Education
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • Mentorship
woman hugging a llama

Is a Farm – Maybe a Llama Farm – the Ideal Retirement Business?

8 months ago
A Woman Restaurateur Sticks Up For Her Fellow Owners. The Industry Is Worse Off Than Many Americans Realize.

A Woman Restaurateur Sticks Up For Her Fellow Owners. The Industry Is Worse Off Than Many Americans Realize.

2 years ago
  • About
  • Partner
  • Bespoke Research
  • Listening Tours​
  • Contact
  • Support Us
  • Privacy Policy

(703-966-7357)

© 2020 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 
Facebook Twitter Linkedin
No Result
View All Result
  • Research
  • Finance
  • Women Entrepreneurs
  • New Builders
  • Ecosystem
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Editor’s Note

© 2022 Mondial Publishing Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Free Download

Times of E Speaks with Jim McKelvey

Get exclusive insights on the future of entrepreneurship. 

Download Now

Support Times of E

Times of E covers the emerging ecosystem of diverse founders.

With your support of our journalism, you will receive our weekly newsletter and one of these resources for free: 

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?