Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 29, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 13 Businesses have enough women leaders A Pew poll in September found 59 percent of American adults think there are too few women in top executive business positions. Women, at 70 percent, were more likely to feel that way than men, who said at a 48-percent rate too few women are in business leadership. Just over half said gender discrimination is a major reason why there aren't more women in executive roles. When polled online, the majority of WBJ readers said the gender mix in local business leadership is at the right amount. F L AS H P O L L "Many women are already in leadership roles here. Don't you think quality matters a little more than quantity?" Should your workplace have more women in leadership roles? "Not only at my workplace, but at every organization, leadership should be diverse to reflect a larger population. Diversity by gender, race, age, ethnicity, etc. provides for more robust discussions with varying opinions." "If we assume that men and women are equally qualified, then if positions are filled by the best qualified, eventually there will be a 50/50 balance." Yes. Our leadership needs to better reflect our employees' or customers' gender mix. 38% COMMENTS: O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S F O C U S A D V I C E "Persistence is key. Never give up and keep moving toward your goal. Rewards come to the those who persevere." - Donna M. Truex, 2014 honoree "Challenge the status quo and tap into your imagination. New ideas are not found in the known, rather they are found in the unknown. Don't be afraid to go there! " - Naureen Sofia Meraj, 2015 honoree "Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated. Do not settle for anything less." - Kate Sharry, 2018 honoree 4% No. Jobs should simply go to whoever is best qualified. 37% No. We already have many women in leadership roles. 21% Yes. Women would have more executive roles here if not for discrimination. 14 2009 alumnae 15 2010 alumnae 16 2011 alumnae 18 2012 alumnae 20 2013 alumnae 22 2014 alumnae 24 2015 alumnae 26 2016 alumnae 28 2017 alumnae 29 Sandra Brock, PE Vice president & chief engineer Nitsch Engineering, Worcester 30 Marianne Lancaster President Lancaster Packaging, Inc., Hudson 31 Jennifer Luisa Vice president of marketing and communications The Hanover Insurance Group, Worcester 32 Laurie Masiello President Masy BioServices, Pepperell 33 Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA Co-managing partner AAFCPAs, Westborough 34 Kate Sharry President Group Benefits Strategies, Auburn 35 The List: Top woman-owned businesses 36 Column: Successful women shape our community C O N T E N T S WOMEN I N B U S I N E S S O U T S T A N D I N G WBJ Worcester Business Journal 2018 honorees:

• Cover