C-suite, how hard to fight for it?

michaelaskedlauren · July 2013

A few weeks ago I threw my hat in the ring to be the CMO of my revamped company. I have heard through the grapevine that there have been various discussions around it and some CEOs feel I am not "senior enough" aka old enough. I have been fighting this battle for a few years now and it is very frustrating. If I am capable of doing the job, WTF does it matter how old I am?!

So, this week I have had a few meetings with some of the Execs basically pitching myself for the role. Tomorrow is my meeting with the Gobal CEO. Now through all of this it has been extra hard to keep my gameface on because Im 9 weeks pregnant and who knows what I will want once this baby gets here. If you were me, would you still fight for this role with all your will knowing that this time next year you may want to a) switch to a lesser role, b) switch to part time, or c) go somewhere else?

No one at work knows I am KU yet. I plan on keeping it quiet for as long as I can (with #1 I was able to hide it until 5.5 months).

Thanks for your advice, girls!

aglenn · July 2013

I personally would not if I thought there was a good chance I'd be asking to step down that soon. I would worry that it would make me look like I tried it and couldn't handle it. If you are going for a position at that level you have to be really committed, IMO.

AlphaMom82 · July 2013

GO for it!!!

mariamaria · July 2013

That's a tough one. On one hand I'd say go for it if you really want it without wondering what to do in the future. But on the other hand if you feel like you really might want to cut back or do a reduced schedule when baby comes along, I'd be thinking a bit on what is fair to your employer. You could be so great for the job that cutting back would still work and they'd allow you some flexibility while keeping the CMO role. Or it could leave them in a pinch and you could burn some bridges. It's a tough call. I think ultimately if you really want it go for it. Circumstances change and you may determine you love the job and don't feel you want a reduced schedule, or they may be willing to work with you a bit on giving you flexibility. Biggest question would be is if you think you'd really regret it if you didn't try.

EastCoastBride · July 2013

aglenn said:

I personally would not if I thought there was a good chance I'd be asking to step down that soon. I would worry that it would make me look like I tried it and couldn't handle it. If you are going for a position at that level you have to be really committed, IMO.

This is where I fall. If you do fight for it and win, then next year say "Oh- I really don't want it....", if you stay there - you have lost ALL hopes of ever moving up again.

And while I don't feel this is your personal battle to fight - as age is an issue here, you'd probably shoot everyone in the foot at your company who is young but want to move up the ladder.

cecilyandgautam · July 2013

If you're going to stick around and take just a standard ML, I would definitely go for it, but if you're looking to leave or will want to step down when ML's over, then I'd bow out.

btw - I also hate how age is assumed to mean capable. I'm young but I work my butt off and I do some of the best work in my office.

boogerbearoriginal · July 2013

EastCoastBride said:

aglenn said:

I personally would not if I thought there was a good chance I'd be asking to step down that soon. I would worry that it would make me look like I tried it and couldn't handle it. If you are going for a position at that level you have to be really committed, IMO.

This is where I fall. If you do fight for it and win, then next year say "Oh- I really don't want it....", if you stay there - you have lost ALL hopes of ever moving up again.

And while I don't feel this is your personal battle to fight - as age is an issue here, you'd probably shoot everyone in the foot at your company who is young but want to move up the ladder.

Ditto this. IMO it would reflect really, really bad on you if you push hard for this promotion and then 6m later say "nevermind". I think you need to do some (quick!) soul searching about your long term career goals, and if this is a position you ultimately want and now is a time you could achieve it then I say go for it. You already have an older child, so you know 'what to expect'. Do you really think you'll want to cut back once LO is born?

If you think you may want it, but you're not sure when, then don't fight for it now. Fight for it when you can commit to the job.

Not only do I think you'd be negatively impacting younger employees down the road, I also think you'd be influencing the company's view on pg employees. It would really play into the awful stereotype that once baby comes, all women quit their careers.

2chatter · July 2013

I think you need to be OK with not wanting the role. That's what it sounds like to me. That you in theory want it, but in practice, will most likely prioritize your family. I was in a very similar situation right before my third child. I backed down. Now that door is closed and locked - and I have no regrets. I have a career I enjoy, am young enough that if in TEN YEARS I wanted to make a move up I would not be "old", I would be "just right".

Sometimes, you have to say, the mommy track is not the worst place to be.

KL777 · July 2013

There's no way I would fight for that role if I thought I may want to step down after baby comes, go part-time, or find a more family friendly job.

I say, if you're pregnant, make moves to give yourself some options that you may want as a new mom.

Mrs.RockyM · July 2013

After DD1, I started to reprioritize, and after DD2, I did it even more. I just don't want to deal with all the extra executive level stuff. I just kind of feel like for the time being, my career is somewhat on hold. I'm building experience and gaining and developing skills, but it's just not the right time for me to jump into the executive level ring. I just have too many other things I'd rather do - like go to flag day parades, or trike-a-thons at DD1's pre-k, come to holiday parties, go to doctor's appointments, etc. In a few years I'll reevaluate.

Don't fight for it unless you're going to give it your 100%. Like others have said, if you do and then back down others will think you couldn't handle it and it will probably make things worse for future young people who are trying to push their way to the top in your company.

jnnfrrose6 · July 2013

I'm all for you fighting for the position, but only after you do some true soul searching about the future. If you reasonably think you will want to take a step back, then you shouldn't go for it, but you shouldn't pass it up if it's only a possibility. If it's more of an issue that you may want to go somewhere else, then there are bigger issues than you being KU.

michaelaskedlauren · July 2013

Thanks for all your responses ladies, you have all given me a lot to think about. I think, in the end, I would be disappointed in myself if I didnt go for it. There is no guarantee that Ill even get the job, so why worry about all the "what ifs" now when they may not even matter.

Karla CS · July 2013

If this is something you truly want, I say go for it. I can think of one notable woman lately who recently made history by going for a C-level position while pregnant. As long as you're confident that you'll be returning after maternity leave, do it.

Mustardseed2007 · July 2013

I think this is a good way to look at it and glad to hear you say you're going to go for it.

I think the other posters have great points about how negative it could be if you take the job and then shortly after say nev' mind, but if you think you could make work enough of a priority to do a great job in that position, I think you should go for it!!!

SoMoNY · July 2013

If you fight for it and scenario 1 or 2 happen you are done forever at that firm.

JWSchwarz · July 2013

Seriously, read Lean In. Don't give up just because you think one day you "might" want to give up. You are honestly thinking about giving up something you are meant for and DESERVE, just because you think there is a chance you might not want it in a year? Cross that path when the time comes, but get what you want now!

snowgirl427 · July 2013

JWSchwarz said:
Seriously, read Lean In. Don't give up just because you think one day you "might" want to give up. You are honestly thinking about giving up something you are meant for and DESERVE, just because you think there is a chance you might not want it in a year? Cross that path when the time comes, but get what you want now!

Sheryl Sandburg just spoke at the Firm I work for. Haven't seen the replay yet but I've heard it was a great discussion.

groovygrl · July 2013

pp if you work at pwc you can go to the Lean In page on FB and it links to the talk from there. It was pretty good, I posted about it below.

My first instinct, as someone who really liked "lean in" was yes- lean in!
However, the fact that you actually think there is a chance you are already thinking you would leave the position in 1 year is a bit odd to me I guess. Like others have said, you can said goodbye to opportunities there in the future and I also feel like it is a burned bridge. But I do agree with what you said, try for what you think you want now &deal with the 'what if's' later is probably the best approach as long as you know what could happen if you choose to leave... If you do an amazing job in the coming year there may be great options for you in terms of flexibility- as Sheryl Sandberg said in the pwc talk the other day, companies will treat their best employees the best, for the most part...

melody921 · July 2013

aglenn said:

I personally would not if I thought there was a good chance I'd be asking to step down that soon. I would worry that it would make me look like I tried it and couldn't handle it. If you are going for a position at that level you have to be really committed, IMO.

This. I also don't think it's fair to fight for it knowing you might give it up and they'll have to traing someone else anyway.

Mrs_Lady · July 2013

After having my LO I left my employer to do consulting work pt working entirely remotely for the last 9 mos. Prior to that I was at the Director level and was recently called back help out in an interim role in a few weeks. I was honest when I left and that helped me decide on what I wanted work to look like once I had LO.

You really don't know how you will feel after you have the baby but I agree continue working like you want now and set up your game plan for after you return to work post baby. What will you want work to look like?

CrawltheWarriorKing · July 2013

JWSchwarz said:

Seriously, read Lean In. Don't give up just because you think one day you "might" want to give up. You are honestly thinking about giving up something you are meant for and DESERVE, just because you think there is a chance you might not want it in a year? Cross that path when the time comes, but get what you want now!

I also just finished reading Lean In and my immediate thought would be to go for it. However I think since you are already KU and you are already thinking of leaving, or going PT that you shouldn't go for this position. If you said you were TTGP and eventually would want to slow down once you had a kid then I'd feel different.

Like others have said, I'd personally be afraid to burn bridges working in a position I killed for and just be there for less than 6 months before quitting or asking for reduced hours.

But only you can decide this, based on your experience with your company and what kind of future you want there.

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