It’s the babies, stupid

I've been to a few entrepreneur, venture capital, and private equity-related panels in the past few days, and I every time I go to one of these conferences, I'm struck by how male-dominated the room -- and the business world -- is, from seed start-ups all the way through private equity partnerships. As a general rule, I've seen that female CEOs in the world of Private Equity only exist as heads of Limited Partners.

These articles explore why female entrepreneurs have trouble securing venture capital for their business plans (it's the babies, stupid).

Silicon Valley Has a Woman Problem, But Women Still Have a Baby Problem 

Silicon Valley: You and Some of Your VC's have a Gender Problem

Capital Gains: Women, Babies, And Getting Ahead In Business

I wonder if and when this will change...

China's Banker Pay Could Use Some Incentives - from WSJ

 

China, meet U.S. Helloooo, disparity. WSJ article.

Some actual words of wisdom

"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not... genius will not... education alone will not. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

- Ray Kroc, Founder of McDonalds

The Business of Lady Gaga

"She is directing every frame of her music and her life, imagining how clips will appear on YouTube and what people will tweet after she appears on the VMAs," says Dumenco in a Forbes article with the subtitle "Lady Gaga isn't the music industry's new Madonna. She's its new business model."

The woman is truly a genius in more ways than one. Here we have another celebrity hyperaware of the power of media and using it to consciously shape her image to her liking.

Although honestly, I think Gaga's a bit overexposed, what with taking on everything from guest appearances on Gossip Girl to collaborating on earphones with Dre and songs with Beyonce to helping launch whatever products in Singapore.

Nevertheless, I still do love her and also actually respect her much.

*

Mac's newest campaign, "From Our Lips," will launch in March and promote "MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick," at $14. Proceeds to be donated to the MAC AIDS Fund.

*Note color of face v. hand
**Also, I am loving these sunglasses... where can I get these?

By The Numbers: What Women CEOs Are Earning

Slideshow of Top Paid Women CEOS compiled by Forbes

#1 is Andrea Jung of Avon -- no surprise there.

Thoughts on the future/ abnormal blog entry

Do you ever feel like there's a larger purpose for you in life? Sometimes I forget it, but I very much feel like I'm working towards something larger. I'm not completely sure what it is yet, but there are so many people in the world who we - as highly educated people with so many resources - can help. I feel like I'm moving in that direction. I'm still figuring it out and searching for how, but I'm going to do something to affect humanity for the better. And effect change in the world. Sometimes one just needs to be reminded, but I know I can do something, and I feel like everything I'm doing now is to equip me to do that huge, significant thing. So far, I think my liberal arts education has been a step forward. So I just need to keep moving forward and keep the larger picture in mind, even if I can't yet see it clearly. I think I can see it more clearly than ever before, though, and that is good. I feel myself moving from more micro-type life goals to now seriously considering more macro goals that I've only thought about more in passing. Oh, senior year of college.



How about you? Thoughts?



/end scene

Email going around

My friend got this e-mail of The Lloyd's Prayer and did a dramatic reading of it for me... hahahaha

OUR CHAIRMAN
WHO ART AT GOLDMAN
HALLOWED BE THY NAME

THE RALLYS COME,GODS WORK BE DONE
WE HAVE NO FEAR OF CORRECTION
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY GAIN
AND BANKRUPT OUR NEAREST COMPETITORS
LEAVING NO ONE LEFT TO STAND AGAINST US
AND BRING US NOT UNDER INDICTMENT

FOR THINE IS THE TREASURY
AND THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE
FOREVER AND EVER
GOLDMAN

Rent the Runway?

"Netflix for Haute Couture dresses," NYT reports.

The founders say that more than 20,000 women have signed up for the service, which has been shipping dresses for only a week. Bain Capital Ventures provided seed financing, which the company used to build its inventory of 160 styles.

...retail stores in major cities have offered dresses for rent for years. Rent the Runway is betting that its shop-by-Web convenience and the appeal of its top-quality fashions will persuade women across the country to rent a dress for a special occasion without trying it on beforehand.

Interesting funding choice by Bain Capital Ventures.

Increasing the energy efficiency of supply chains

McKinsey just did a study on this topic, and it makes me wish so hard that I knew enough to add to the conversation or add a comment on this article. Isn't it amazing how there's SO MUCH to learn and understand in the world?

Notes to self

to read - have not read all yet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/business/10women.html?em

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/sober-in-the-animal-house/

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200906/happiness