Developing Leaders: Helping Female Executives Excel in Male-Dominated Environments

Our client was the highest-level female executive in a financial services organization and highly accomplished in this male-dominated industry. For continued career success she needed to improve her communication and partnering skills to be more effective in working alongside people with whom she shared few similarities. She contacted Career Partners International for help.

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The Challenge

CPI's challenge was to encourage, develop, expand, listen and tailor a program that would identify and bring out all of the best qualities and talents the client possessed.

CPI's Response

After interviewing several firms, she picked a CPI partner as her coach. She sought someone with extensive executive-level business experience with whom she was comfortable as a strategic thought partner. She chose a male coach, explaining, "It was crucial to learn how men think and act." In fact, the differences were instrumental in achieving new levels of success.

The coaching process included customized evaluations. The real added value came from the CPI partner helping to effectively adapt her skills to a variety of situations. The initial goal was to understand her strengths, identify her needs and determine where to focus, moving forward.

The Results

Her new levels of effectiveness can be measured against these extraordinary business successes.

• Equity investment in her business unit will double in one year.
• A new line of business will be added that doubles her firm's revenue base within three years.
• Her region achieved record revenues the first year; maximum bonuses were paid, and revenues are exceeding targets.