I recently attended an Entrepreneur’s Conference hosted by Harvard Business School.  The sessions were high-quality and there were ample opportunities to network with other business owners, investment banks, and potential investors.  Overall, it was a great day.  However, I was shocked by the attendee demographics: Despite the fact some 40% of businesses are owned by women entrepreneurs and a large number by minorities, attendees of this conference were predominantly white men.  I would estimate that of the 1000 or so people I saw, 5% were women, and less than 1% were minorities.  Most attendees were from Ivy League schools.  The panel sessions were stiff and the Q&As, formal.  Moreover, blue suits and ties were the dress code – quite an uncommon sight these days in post-bubble Orange County, California. During the opening keynote address, I had the sudden realization I was sitting smack in the middle of a meeting of the proverbial “Old Boys Club”.   I have been to these meetings before, but, since opting out of my executive career to join the “Mommy Track”, my club membership has lapsed so I failed to recognize the signs this was one of THOSE gatherings. 

Most professional women have experienced, and to some extent, penetrated the ivy (league) walls of the Club at some point.  Successful entry requires looking and acting as much like everyone else as possible.  This is not the place for discussions about work-life balance, corporate diversity, or the challenges of working motherhood.  Yet it is important to be part of this, because this is where businesses get funded and where life-long professional contacts are made.  The “Old Boys Club” works, so we can’t be blamed for aspiring to join.

However, it is in this context that I have so much admiration for what WorkitMom’s founders are trying to achieve: Building a community of professional moms so we can help each other achieve strong careers, healthy families, and meaningful personal lives.   It all made me think, “What if I could help design the ideal “Old Girls Club”?  Here is what it might include:

• Membership would of course be open to the top performers from any school or profession, not just the Ivy League
• The dress code would include bright colors and fun, flexible fabrics (Baby drool included!)
• Meetings would be held outdoors or somewhere with access to fresh air, healthy food, and comfortable, conversational seating
• Childcare would be available
• Topics of discussion would include work-life balance, a diversity of thoughts and ideas, and the search for meaning
• We could help each other get access to capital, sit on each other’s boards, and tap our network for a good carpet installer.

I’ll bet the boys would wanna join too.