Womanomics Hits Home – Punditmom’s Home, That Is

I had the privilege this morning of attending a book party at the home of the one and only Punditmom, whose talents are exceeded only by her very lovely self. 

The event had real star power:  BBC's Katty Kay and ABC's Claire Shipman, both solid, unpretentious, smart, thoughtful women – and moms – and, oh yeah, network news stars.  Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably know that they've written a book called Womanomics, whose basic thesis is that it makes economic and corporate governance sense for the needs of women workers to be accommodated by their employers.  In fact, if their book is right, and there is no reason to doubt it, there is a real revolution afoot.

For someone my age, it's thrilling to hear employment issues discussed with assumptions we could never have made.  Asking for schedule adjustments, work/family life balance, was out of the question.  We were just fighting for equal pay and a few weeks off when we had our babies.   The argument these two women make, that businesses are learning that women in their workforce in great numbers, and at all levels, is of great value to their bottom line.  They line up to hear the two speak; join conference calls by the dozens to be briefed and basically finally get the power and capacity of "more than half the talent, not just more than half the population."  Interesting, accessible and funny, great believers in their mission, they were a pleasure to meet and listen to.  I can't wait to read the book.

OH and I'll post about The Wedding soon.