Nancy Carter – VP, Research, Catalyst

What could make a hard-core women’s business expert even more serious about advancing women? Granddaughters.

By Taylor Mallory

Nancy Carter, Ph.D., vice president of research for Catalyst, has spent her career with her nose to the grindstone, looking for the answers to women’s advancement in the workplace. But for this mother of two sons, her lifelong mission of ensuring a more egalitarian business world for future women leaders has never hit home quite like it does now that she has four granddaughters under the age of 3.

“Don’t get me wrong. I love having sons,” Carter says. “But having girls is so exciting and makes me doubly committed to advancing women, so that when they enter the workforce, there are unlimited opportunities. I love knowing that my work now has a direct impact on my family.”

PINK talks to Carter about the issues most impacting professional women – and her success secrets, both personal and professional.

PINK: What is the biggest challenge professional women face in the workplace today?
Nancy Carter: Stereotypes, particularly about what constitutes leadership. Despite how far we have come, there is still a double-blind dilemma in many workplaces where women can be damned if they do and damned if they don’t. There’s often a perception that women leaders are too soft or too tough – and it can be really hard to find that balance. If they are well-liked, they’re seen as incompetent and not capable of commanding respect. If they’re more assertive, which male leaders are expected to be, they’re not personable. We’ve been saying these things for years, but it’s sadly still true: Men are seen as the default leaders, so women have to be better than men at the same work to advance. These forms of discrimination are so hard to combat because they’re often invisible.

The most powerful example of stereotypes in practice (and overcome) that I’ve seen in years is a video on YouTube of Britain’s Got Talent, the British version of American Idol. Susan Boyle [an overweight, frumpy 47-year-old] came on stage, and because of the way she looked and her age, the judges and audience were really skeptical about her. Simon was rolling his eyes, and people in the audience were laughing and making faces. But then she opened her mouth, and it was amazing. Everyone sat up, looking surprised, clapped loudly and ultimately had to examine the views they’d imposed on her just because of how she looked.

PINK: How is the economy changing things for women’s advancement?
N.C.: Women’s representation in corporate America has stagnated over the last few years, and I’m concerned there could erosion soon. Corporate leaders, now distracted by the troubled economy, may not take time to set the tone for inclusion unless we make sure corporations understand the importance of including women, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because our research shows that companies with higher numbers of women in top jobs are more profitable.

PINK: How is Catalyst dealing with the recession?
N.C.: We’re doing well. But we’re stepping up the game anyway. Our research, the critical driver in making the change we’re envisioning, has depended on partnerships with companies and individuals who sponsor and help find participants for the studies. My challenge for the future is finding ways to build on the partnerships we’ve established to keep those resources. We do an annual conference around women’s advancement and leadership. Now we’re leveraging those events with smaller groups of women, setting up casual conversations and getting them involved as advocates for Catalyst within their organization. We’re doing much more on the Web, using technology platforms to interact with and engage more people and increase the global scope of our work. And we’ve clearly recognized that men have to be part of our diversity journey, so we’re reaching out to key male leaders and finding more ways to engage them. We started the CEO Summit for business leaders, largely men, and are getting testimonials from influential male leaders to inspire others to get involved.

PINK: How’s your Life/Work balance?
N.C.: I don’t often balance well. Research is never done. There’s always another puzzle to be solved, data to be analyzed and interpreted, work that you’re trying to develop to advance the vision further than the day before. We still have so far to go, and there are not enough hours in the day. I will admit that my New Year’s resolutions each year are to live a more balanced life. I usually fail miserably, but I’m getting better at it since I have these new granddaughters. I want to be an active, central part of their lives.

PINK: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?
N.C.: Get a mentor of influence. Not all mentors are equal. Seek out those who have access to the influential decision-makers at your company, and find a champion who is willing and able to “chauffeur” you toward the visibility and projects you desire. This doesn’t mean walking up to a senior leader and asking if she would be your mentor. Rather, it means sizing up the situation and then providing reason for that person to champion you. You can ask for specific advice or just provide an exemplary product that adds value to their efforts. The mentor who made the most critical differences in my career trajectory (who would probably not even characterize himself as one of my mentors) came into my life when I volunteered to help on a research project he was launching. I worked long hours putting together a research proposal, soliciting colleagues to help and seeking out resources, and I became a key player on the team. Once I’d proven myself to him, he invited me to present findings with him in high-visibility venues and introduced me to influential colleagues.

PINK: How do you define “success”?
N.C.: It’s personal satisfaction with what I have accomplished at the end of each day, knowing I’ve done the best I can do for whatever has been in front of me that day. Sometimes that’s work. Sometimes that’s relationships. Sometimes that’s fun or play. I do it by being really focused, drawing on all the experiences I’ve had over time. I’m a strong advocate for celebrating small wins. I’m convinced they accumulate into big differences.