Question: Earlier this year at the World Economic Forum Bill Gates urged businesses worldwide to adopt “creative capitalism” to address global problems. Your book touches on why and how Carlson has already been actively using its power and resources to improve the human condition for the past ten years.
Do you have advice for small business owners on how they too can contribute more within their own communities, if not globally?
MCN: Leaders of any corporation today can help employees based on the understanding that job creation is the best philanthropy there is. It fosters pride and independence and lets people stand taller.
We are all members of the human race. Corporations and [for profit] businesses have extra power for doing good, even more than nonprofits, for adding value. When the reward of business is invested in people that's when exciting growth can happen. I am thrilled with young people. They are so eager to make a difference but they may not see business as a way to do that.
WIB: The Economic Blueprint [subtitled “The Women Business Owners Platform for Growth”] has 6 core principles most of which address women’s issues, but they also encompass the needs of men who own small businesses.
Do you think that the Blueprint will be better received today in Washington, D.C. because so many of the principles outline the problems facing all business owners, not just women?
MCN: This was a natural evolution. It is very astute to recognize women have different socialization needs than men. But in terms of building and developing businesses the needs of men and women are the same.
Both have access issues. Small businesses whether male or female have the same problems obtaining access to capital. We have more power when we collaborate to make our voice heard better. There is more opportunity for success when solutions have a broader appeal.
[The Blueprint] espouses the principles that we live in a world both global and local; made of individuals and groups; male and females are partners; public and private – that we need to collaborate. When connecting the dots a leader must raise people up to awareness if we want to have a win-win situation. When both sides can win we build enduring institutions. When there is a win-lose situation between races we weaken institutions and lose opportunities.
WIB: What do you feel is the most underutilized resource available to women in this country?
MCN: Optimism. Women continue to be an underutilized resource around the world - women's talents are not fully appreciated. There is great promise because the number of women graduating from business schools has increased. But women are still 30% nationally underrepresented in business schools, although 51% represented in medical schools and more than 50% in law schools.
We need more women to become CEOs. Business school and grad school are a valuable part of education. Business school and continuing education in today’s world, especially living as long as we do, is vital to women. Even the retirement age is in question, and others stay home to provide family care for an aging parent.
I also believe another underutilized resource is women who “step out.” The average time a woman stays out [of work before returning] is two years and three months. We need to keep women working and help them return to work as they reenter at a lower salary.
To help women return to work we need to do a better job of accepting the reality of family life. Women are delaying having children probably related to the fact they are building careers. We need to encourage women so that don’t come up on child bearing life facing so many issues of work versus family life.
We have to be the change we want see in the world. We need to speak out ourselves. There is an old saying we get the leaders we deserve.
