We can't say that women have broken the glass ceiling. But in cases around the world, they have fired a fair few holes in it.
On top of a million dollar salary, add four million in bonuses plus stocks, shares, options - a crammed Christmas sack that could add up to $130 million in five years. If she delivers the goods. She has another delivery later this year - she's pregnant.
Over at Hewlett Packard they put their faith on a woman. Meg Whitman's salary is only $1. But with it come $16 million stock options and a $6 million annual bonus. Again if she delivers the goods.
They are more used to a female boss after Carly Fiorina for six years. I'm pleased to hear that she and Meg frequently confer - in such a testosterone industry, the support options are very limited.
Australia does not have a particularly proud history of ceiling smashing. But the few we do have are pretty spectacular.
Gail Kelly has proved herself to be one of the best CEOs in the country, bringing in $3 billion profit for Westpac's first half 2012, perhaps justifying a $9 million salary. She's done this with a handicap in the saddlebags over the past 20 years. Triplets.
However, a team of British psychology researchers have pointed to a flaw in the skylight escape. The top of the glass ceiling can lead to the glass cliff. "Research suggests that women are more likely to be appointed to leadership positions that are associated with an increased risk of criticism and failure," say Dr Michelle Ryan and Prof Alex Haslam of Exeter University.
In other words, when the battlefield is getting hectic and your forces are facing defeat, push the girl out front and rely on her to calm things down. Can this be true?
In the case of Marissa Mayer, taking her success at Google and translating it into a new cash flow for the long-ailing Yahoo! is not going to be easy, against the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Google itself. The Web is all or nothing, it has no room for also-rans.
HP is a technology company desperate for a new silver bullet. This was Steve Jobs' genius, materialising an iPhone or an iPad from the air. HP's recent merging of its printer and PC divisions is a band aid, not a bullet.
Nicole Hollows left Macarthur Coal in the last dumpster. And fixing up Sydney Airport is the stuff of nightmares - no room! No noise! Curfew! No runways! Where would a girl start trying to make sense of that mess?
Of course we are well familiar with the glass cliff when it comes to politics. The woman gets her chance when there's no more chance to be had.
Remember Carmen Lawrence, made premier of WA to clean up the WA Inc mess left by Brian Burke. Kristina Keneally hopelessly trying to save NSW. Joan Kirner drawing the curtain on the Cain era. All valiant ladies, marched off the edge of the glass cliff.
ray@ebeatty.com
Blog: themarketeer-raybeatty.blogspot.com
