“I can’t believe I’m still being asked to prove I’m worth my salary.” Kelly, 42, is one of the lucky women who can make that claim. At five feet tall and 120 pounds, she wears her thick blonde hair in a neat bun. She is, however, far from being quiet: as the vice president of marketing and sales at an international company, she’s been known to bark orders at her employees.
Despite her commanding presence, Kelly is unassuming and down to earth. When she first started in the industry, she earned $25,000 per year, but now makes over $100,000 per year. In an industry where most people’s salaries don’t even come close to that, she’s had to learn to rely on herself and not just her looks.
Raise Or Not To Raise?
The question is, should Kelly be making more money than she is? Should she be asking for a raise?
According to Linda Liukas, Ph.D., a professor of economics at the University of British Columbia, there’s no simple answer to this question. While female CEOs do rise to the top in their industries, most women in senior management positions work in lower-paying industries.
“For most economists, the answer is no. A woman’s primary function is to raise children and to care for the home. Men are more likely to go into occupations where they can use their intelligence rather than their strength,” says Dr. Liukas.
How Has She Done It?
Kelly doesn’t just do it by being a woman — she’s also done it through determination and hard work. She started out in the industry after completing her undergraduate education at the University of Miami, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1985. While there, she worked for the English department, and also began tutoring students in math and English. It was during this time that she began to get interested in marketing.
After graduating from Miami, Kelly went on to earn a Master’s degree from the University of Miami Business School, where she also worked as a marketing professor. She then completed a Ph.D. in marketing at the University of Kansas, where she also worked as a professor. Since then, she’s gone on to found and lead three companies of her own, and also gotten involved in many philanthropic projects.
What Does She Do That Male CEOs Don’t?
In addition to running a successful business, Kelly has filled a role that few other women have been able to claim: that of a strong female leader. She’s given speeches at conferences, mentored other women in business, and even been interviewed about her career on television. One of the things that makes her different from many other female CEOs is that she doesn’t just focus on being the biggest or the best — she wants to be the most effective leader she can be, using her intelligence and her ability to make connections.
“I get asked by lots of women whether it’s harder to be a woman in business. My answer is no, and I think a lot of women don’t feel that way because they’re not used to seeing women in leadership positions. So when they do, it can feel a little bit daunting,” says Kelly.
Why Is This Issue Even More Important Now?
In today’s world, it’s more important than ever for women to ensure they are paid equally for equal work. In her book, The Truth About The Gender Pay Gap, Dr. Liukas details the many ways in which women are discriminated against in the workplace, and how this has a direct impact on their income. In the United States, women on average earn only 80 cents for every dollar a man earns. While this may not seem like a large difference, when you consider that women typically take a year and a half to two years to reach their full earning potential, it can begin to add up.
In times like these, every woman, no matter their background or experience, should be supported in seeking higher education and job opportunities, as both women and men should have the right to pursue happiness and success.