Stay-at-home Moms' Failure to Keep Up With Technology Is Holding Them Back

March 13, 2009 RSS Feed Print

By Bonnie Erbe, Thomas Jefferson Street blog.

Interesting take on the secrets of successful women (and men) in our op-ed section today by Accenture executive Roxanne Taylor:

Additionally, these "very successful" women said they were learning new skills so they could move to the next level (reported by 78 percent), were ready to consider a new position or role (76 percent), regularly asked superiors for new challenges (65 percent), and were willing to travel globally (68 percent). More than half (54 percent) said they would relocate to another country to advance their careers.

In other words, when they felt they weren't being used enough, these women did something about it. They learned. They stretched.

But this same Accenture survey shows the one area in which women aren't "stretching" enough is by keeping up with the latest technology. Interesting that we, on my PBS show, also found this was the primary problem discovered by so-called on-ramp moms—that is, mothers who had been captains of industry and took time off to raise children when their kids came along. I suppose this should be taken as one big hint to off-ramp moms: keep up with technology while you're at home. It's critical to workplace success these days!

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Your slipping when you write articles like this. It makes you sound like a boob.

Jeff of WI 12:04PM March 15, 2009

How is this an opinion? You did nothing more that quote something and then paraphrase it. I hope you aren't getting paid for this!

Justin of IA 5:18PM March 13, 2009

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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