Sponsorship, particularly the support of men in positions of influence who are willing to advocate on behalf of female colleagues, is critical to propel high-potential women up the corporate ladder, according to a study presented at the Groundbreaking Women in Construction conference, held in New York City on May 7.
Ann Waeger, board member of the Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network, said the group's benchmark study, "Women in Commercial Real Estate 2010," found that women expressed far more dissatisfaction with their careers than men. "To better understand the difference in men's and women's feelings, we interviewed 20 CEOs and others," said Waeger, a partner in the New Jersey law firm Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis. "We wanted to encourage the industry to find new ways to keep women on a successful track, to get them to achieve financial parity and to help women who are exceptionally talented to advance to the C-suite."