(This article appeared in the May 2013 issue of the International Business Brokers Association newsletter.)
By Suzanne De Lucia CBI, Fellow Of The IBBA
Keith McLeod recently asked me to pen a monthly column about women for the IBBA newsletter. Quite frankly, I wasn’t sure where to go with this subject.
Sure, we all about know that ‘men are from Mars and women are from Venus.’ Undoubtedly, every one of us on either side of the gender gap has wondered what planet their counterpart was from.
Still, we are all unique and all use different skills, techniques and talents to reach the same goal – making a living in this crazy and wonderful business.
Business brokerage has one of the lowest percentages of involvement by women of any white collar profession. In my 20+ year membership in the IBBA, the percentage has barely changed and is still below 10% female membership. When this is compared to the trends in law, accounting, medicine, or even engineering, it is well below the female participation in these previously male-dominated careers. I myself have always wondered why our profession doesn’t attract more female talent.
Yet, attendance at most any IBBA or affiliate event will present the opportunity to meet some of the amazing and successful women who are out there in the trenches with the guys.
So I’m throwing it out to you. Please let me know your thoughts on any topics you might like to be pursued. One broker told me he would read the article if I could tell him how to successfully hire a female broker. Another has suggested that the use of what might be considered female values and characteristics might achieve different and very positive results in the sales process. There’s no doubt that women are embracing entrepreneurship at a much higher rate than men, and these businesses present a source of attractive potential listings.
The goal of the column is to stimulate discussion and ideas for the benefit of both sexes and help us to see and understand things from either side of the Y chromosome. I look forward to hearing your ideas. Please email me at sdelucia@frontrangebusiness.com or pick up the phone and call me at 303-499-6008.