Weekly News Update

35 Comments

1. That story about the hour a day of exercise was really bumming me out, until I realized what they were counting as exercise — pretty low impact stuff, time is less if you are jogging or doing aerobics or whatever — and also that the women in the study were not restricting calories in any way. I do elliptical 4 times a week for 45 minutes, and eat sensibly (while not depriving myself entirely) and have not gained weight into middle age.

2. Did anyone read the story about Spanish breast cancer researchers? Apparently they’re now trying to really make women understand that being overweight is a big contributor to breast cancer. Scary. Kinda makes you want to hop on the treadmill, doesn’t it?

   1. Read the information more closely. They’re saying only 1/3 of breast cancers could be prevented with lifestyle – and that lifestyle means maintaining a very low BMI your entire life, which as we saw from the other study discussed this week, takes a lot of physical activity. I think it’s hilarious that when the recommendations about doing 30 minutes of exercise three times a week came out, no one followed those, and now they are recommending an hour 7 days a week – do you think anyone will be more likely to do 7 hours than 1 1/2? 2/3 of breast cancers are not preventable with lifestyle and are due to other factors, including genetics, over which people have little to no control. I am active, both in the gym and outdoors, and I believe strongly in being active, but a lot of the language used by the Spanish researchers seemed very blaming, like it’s people’s own fault if they get breast cancer. Anyone over 30 has at least one story of someone they know who was healthy, fit and active and got cancer. I honestly believe that it frustrates doctors not to have an answer for why people get sick, and so now they’re coming forward with advice that intentionally or unintentionally blames the victims. Younger people may not have the life experience to realize this yet, but belive me – no matter what you do, no matter who you are, no matter how healthy your lifestyle, no one is safe from cancer. One of the healthiest women I know, a marathon runner with 3 kids, died last year of inflammatory breast cancer that ate her alive in less than six months. The idea that 1/3 of cancers might be preventable if women follow unrealistic guidelines is cold comfort when I remember her kids crying at her funeral. 100 percent of cancers should be curable. Then we can all stop worrying.

      1. When 100 percent of cancers are curable, we should still pay attention to risk factors and do everything within our power to prevent cancer from developing in the first place.

         I don’t think that pointing out how lifestyle impacts health and the development of certain diseases/illnesses is blaming the victims.

         Cancer is a terrible disease and, sometimes, makes very little sense. It can strike the healthiest of 25-year-olds, and at the same time, a 95-year-old who smoked 3 packs a day from the age of 15 can die cancer free of natural causes.

         Nothing in life is for sure. But very few people have negative side effects from maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits. I can’t control the genetic hand I was dealt, but I can control what I choose to eat/drink/smoke and how much exercise I get. Maybe I’ll get cancer anyway, but at least I’ll know I did my part to try and prevent it.

         As a side note, I don’t think 7 hours of moderate exercise a week is unrealistic guidelines.

         1. Agreed with anon. I didn’t read the article, but 1/3 of all breast cancers is a huge number! I don’t know why that would diminish the importance of this study in anyone’s mind.

            I think if I remember correctly, fat cells produce estrogen, or send signals causing it to be produced, or something. So it doesn’t sound too off-base to me. It’s important we all realize that our lifestyle choices–not just how much we eat/exercise, but also the types of food, processed or otherwise–can have a real impact on our health. I certainly don’t exercise as much as I should, because I’m always thinking I’m too busy on that particular day and not thinking about long-term health impacts. I think reality checks are good for all of us; we need to think about long-term health when we make our daily choices in how to prioritize our time.

3. As one of the MBAs (actually its a Masters in Accountancy… which is like an MBA with a lot of Accounting classes) I am happy to say that I talk up/forward this site often ;-)

   Adding more articles/posts about women in finance as opposed to court would probably help though… its a scary world out here!

   1. I am also one of the MBAs (Organizational Behavior).

      I would agree with the above, I also work in finance (banking to be exact). It seems most of the lawyers found this site via Above the Law, perhaps extending out to more Business related sites might bring in more MBAs?

      Pink Magazine is one I check in with a lot, although the topics aren’t updated much. If I can think of some better ones, I will shoot you an email as requested.

      Perhaps also, a survey abought how people found the site might indicate what drives traffic to it?

      I actually found the site through Fabuously Broke’s blog, which was featured on Lifehacker.

      1. ooh I used to love Pink, for some reason I had a free subscription to it and now it’s stopped.

      2. Going Concern, which is a sister site to Above the Law, would probably help bring in the accountants.

         FWIW, I am in law school but I’m also independently of that working on an accounting certificate (and so taking most of the classes one would take in an MTax or MSA program) through a state university so I’ll be eligible to sit for the CPA exam.

   2. As an almost 2-fer, (JD/MBA 2010) the other MBA’s I come into contact with most frequently tend to work in less formal workplaces, except the accountants….. Although I think it’d be nice to have some people who are less frightened of fashion, or rather less convinced that their idea of fashion is the only one that exists….

      1. That’s a good point, banking or other financial services companies, are probably more conservative than other business settings. I would say banking is probably second to law in terms of conservative wardrobes.

         1. And I’d love to get into banking law! Guess that means a navy skirt suit, white blouse and navy pumps every day for the rest of my life ;)

            1. Black is also an option. ;)

         2. Sometimes it just depends on the company – I’m with an exempt org. whose CEO and CFO (and therefore the rest of the Finance division) happens to believe in the suit and tie… so its super conservative… Nothing to do with our industry, just the leadership

      2. I am an MBA who works at law firms. Another difference between law and most top MBA grads is that b-school students have work experience. That is to say, they’ve already had an office experience, found mentors, and gossiped with their friends for 2 years about work and what to wear (while law students more likely had their noses in books). So my theory is that there are more “role models” that the female b-school student have in mind to emulate than the JD’s, who are often (but not always) fresh out of school.

         Having been a banker in the past, I second the above poster who says that many MBA jobs are VERY formal in wardrobe. I wouldn’t dare wear 80% of the stuff featured here, and I worked in banking in London, which is relatively fashion forward. I actually recall getting reprimanded for wearing a bright (plain red wool) overcoat to a client meeting by one of my MDs, because, of course, all of the other attendees were men wearing plain black suits. I digress. The point is that if you’re headed to banking, you already know what to wear in most markets–something VERY conservative. Otherwise, there’s a really wide variety of office cultures for MBA-types.

         As for driving traffic, I’d advertise at all of the top b-schools “Women in Business” conferences. Most schools have this. If you did a panel / presentation there, instant audience. HBS is the biggest one on the East Coast, by far.

         1. One other difference–because of the MBA’s having more life experience, they tend not to freak out about some of the “newbie” questions here. For instance, OCR for a law firm doesn’t strike me as much different than what I went through in undergrad when I interviewed for banking and consulting jobs. In fact, it’s probably easier because you’re not asked too many technical legal questions, while we definitely had to know the answers to technical finance questions. My point is that we’ve already learned what nylons to wear and how to do our hair and whatnot. These are not unimportant questions to folks that have never experienced such things. But the b-school folks have often been there, done that.

            1. Yes… when I went to grad school it was while working full time… so I know how to do an interview — I’ve been the interviewer!

            2. Same here; going to grad school now for my MBA while working full time in banking. I pretty much know how to interview, and have also interviewed others. I still enjoy all the tips here, even when they don’t apply to me.

               While my department at the bank isn’t as conservative as some of the others, there is still an overall very conservative feel and I prefer to fit in with that as I never know what area I might end up working in next. In fact, a running joke amongst us girls is, “So what are you wearing to the meeting tomorrow, black or navy?” :P

            3. Plus a lot of schools focus really heavily on job skills and getting a job. I was a business major in undergrad at a top 10 business school and we even had a required business 101 class both semesters of freshman year that had presentations on what to wear, how to wear your hair and makeup, jewelry, etc., as well as networking assignments, resume stuff, etc. I felt like I was one of the few at my law school who was prepared for all the job stuff and didn’t have to figure out everything by trial and error and advice of the career services office.

         2. MBA with a BS/MA in Accounting and Finance, working in public accounting here; 23 years old, 2 years of work experience (worked my way through grad school).

            Found the site in Glamour magazine (I think?). I would have to say that the demographics of business schools have rapidly changed within the past couple years due to the economy. Recent grads are unable to find jobs in their perspective fields. My alma mater recently put out a survery that 15% of my undergrad graduating class (2008) has a job within the field they received a business degree in. The same is true for 2007 (not as bad) & 2009 (even worse). These circumstances have lead to the recent surge in young business school students.

            I know everyone is suffering so I am not complaining, just giving my $.02. I have a job and have been able to support myself since graduating, unlike many of my “college friends” – who I have introduced to the site :)

            I know that we (young business students/recent grads) really follow the articles about interviews, business etiquette, student loans, and fashion steals.

            PS-Forbes puts out a women’s issue that might be a good advertising opportunity?

      3. Ow! We’re (accountants) not frightened of fashion… we’re surrounded by conservative men who are in love with the suit and tie… Have to do the best we can with what we’ve got!

   3. MBA, almost-JD here!

      I believe that the ‘rules of fashion’ are a little more relaxed in the business world, so it is not quite so hard to dress appropriately while tossing in a little modern style. The legal field seems to be very old-fashioned and very formal, so it is a lot tougher to express oneself within the rigid confines of what is considered appropriate. I think banking is probably a very close second to law- it is a very conservative field.

      1. Another MBA here and I don’t work in finance or big law. I work in energy/oil & gas in Texas. I found the site via one of the fashion blogs I read. I am a senior level financial analyst and agree that b-school folks have been there, done that in terms of dress for the workplace.

         I took the survey and must say that I am disappointed that there aren’t more women of color (I’m black) reading the site as I really enjoy it. I would also say that I am wishing you would feature more plus size options. I think I noted that in my survey comments.

         Keep up the good work.

4. How many people took the survey?

   1. Good question!

5. Pleasantly surprised to see that so many of us like our jobs!

6. Some of these responses are quite surprising…some not so much….

   1. please elaborate!

7. Wow, the survey results on age make me feel like my fellow posters are my daughters. And I’m kind of OK with that.

8. While the majority of readers seem to be tiny, about 40% are size large or XL. Which is why I hate clothes being posted that only go up to size 10 or 12. Maybe the reason that most readers are smaller sizes is b/c of the blog’s content? If more clothes were featured for the average woman (who is a size 14 I believe) then more of those people would read Corporette. Just a thought on behalf of us more curvy professional women!

9. I talked this site up over the holidays to women in my family. I told them that I was so happy to find guidance on looking professional for court, but still fashionable and feminine.

   My sister-in-law, who is an Episcopal priest, said that there are fashion blogs out there for young women priests, too. How cool! :)

10. Forte Foundation is an organization targeted at Women MBA’s. Additionally, Pink’s website has a list of professional organizations that may be a great list to send an introductory email/solicitation to:)
    I believe that Pink ceased to be a hard copy magazine and is just online now- such a bummer, I read it cover to cover as a magazine and hardly ever visit the website.

    1. I really loved the website when I first found it a year or two ago…even subscribed to the print magazine. But I find now that whenever I go – while the available content is still great – nothing new is ever there.

11. FYI – on the survey, there is a gap re the bonuses. It goes from less than $5 thousand to between $10,000 and $20,000. I wasn’t sure what to answer since mine fell between the two categories.

12. @Kat, have you shared these statistics with potential advertisers on the site? Most advertisers are dying to reach young, high income women who are in the mood to shop…You are sitting on a potential gold mine!

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