Do's and don'ts of female retention and advancement

Research shows women are graduating from college and professional programs in roughly equal numbers to men—in fact, their graduation rates in many fields are outpacing their male counterparts'. And yet, when we look at the upper echelons of leadership, men greatly outnumber women. Many businesses are concerned by these trends and have invested in retaining women and minority candidates to ensure their success. But there's a right way and a wrong way to approach this problem. Below, we discuss a case study in "the wrong way."

How to lose a gal in 10 minutes

In June 2018, the Hoboken, New Jersey, office of Ernst & Young—one of the largest accounting firms in the country—held a seminar for approximately 30 of its female executives. The training was billed as advice on how to be successful, but it appears to have taken the form of guidance to women on how best to change themselves to allow for their advancement in a male-dominated field.

Participants report they were told to maintain a nice haircut and manicured nails and to wear well-cut attire that complements their body type. They were also told not to flaunt their bodies or show skin because sexuality scrambles the brain. Women were also counseled on how best to communicate with men, including advice for how to sit when approaching conflict so they aren't perceived as threatening.