Talent in China: A Legion of Ambitious, Qualified Women

Source: Bloomberg - Harvard Business Review

In the decades since Deng Xiaoping instituted market reform, millions of women have profitably followed Deng's dictate that "to get rich is glorious." Half of the 14 billionaires on Forbes magazine's 2010 list of the world's richest self-made women are from mainland China. Chinese women in powerful business positions include Wei Sun Christianson, CEO of Morgan Stanley, China; Mei Yan, Managing Director of MTV Networks, China; and Mary Ma, former CFO of Lenovo and managing director in global equity giant TPG, who recently started her own investment fund. Backing them up are legions of qualified and ambitious women who, increasingly, are the engines powering China's economic juggernaut.

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Like their Western counterparts, the study found, Chinese women are graduating from universities at nearly the same rate as men. They make up nearly 40 percent of MBA students at top-ranked programs at China Europe International Business School in Shanghai and Tsinghua University (nicknamed "the Chinese MIT"), comparable figures to the best schools in the U.S. But the similarities end there.

Sixty-five percent of the more than 1,000 college-educated women surveyed consider themselves very ambitious, compared to 36 percent of their U.S. counterparts; 76 percent aspire to a top job versus 52 percent of Americans. One HR leader in China notes, "We often find female candidates to be as competitive, if not more so, than their male counterparts."

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Multinational organizations expanding their presence in China and Chinese companies extending their reach into the global marketplace have a unique opportunity to help China's career women keep their ambitions on course. Among the programs being implemented in China, GE Women's Network and Women at Intel Network help women overcome cultural challenges through initiatives aimed at boosting self-confidence, inter-cultural communication skills and networking ability. Genpact's WeMentor program and Standard Chartered's Women in Leadership Programme strengthen the pipeline of high-potential women through specific career development action plans. One Standard Chartered program participant later commented, "It made me understand what is needed to reach a senior management position."

Read more: http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/harvardbusiness?sid=H255551e0dd96be48c4af947acb3c24c0

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Actually, a pretty fascinating article all around. There is discussion on China's one-child policy, the idea of "eldercare", etc.

Similar to the report on Indian women a few months back, as well.

Once restored, its disparate impact on women returns. Who do you think is making all those toys that made these women rich?

Especially in a society that has traditionally been again gender equality in the business place?

Gotcha. Glad to know.