| No one can dispute... this is an historic year for | | | | First of all, we must examine the candidate's |
| women in politics. Will presidential frontrunner | | | | style, look, voice, approach, body language, attire, |
| Hillary Rodham Clinton continue to win primaries | | | | image and positioning. Even men in power must |
| throughout 2008, perhaps earning the nomination | | | | be conscious of these key elements. But a |
| of her party, and even being elected to the Oval | | | | woman -- especially in this new arena of power -- |
| Office? Is the country really ready for a woman | | | | will be attracting even more scrutiny. As a force |
| at the top of the charts and the free world? Is | | | | like Hillary Clinton reveals her leadership strengths |
| this the right woman for the "ultimate political CEO | | | | vs. limitations, she will need to: |
| position?" | | | | - Attract and impress both Wall Street and Main |
| As we all explore whether Hillary will be the first | | | | Street. |
| woman to ascend to the job of U.S. President ... it | | | | - Demonstrate her softer side. That might very |
| pays to take a look at the culture and | | | | well include refining her sense of humor, along with |
| experiences in Corporate America itself. After all, | | | | a persona that freely shows feelings, emotions |
| we know that gender bias exists in all levels of | | | | and caring -- perhaps revealing tears. |
| business and politics, particularly at the top. We | | | | - Continue to stack up against the big boys. |
| can't deny that the "sexism" card will eventually | | | | Gaining credibility as a landslide-elected U.S. |
| be played -- whether by Hillary's opponents, by | | | | Senator in the nation's most populous state is a |
| someone in the private sector, by the media | | | | giant stepping stone she has already achieved. |
| (intentionally or not) or even by Hillary's camp | | | | - Balance her unique circumstances as the |
| itself -- to either discredit this female candidate | | | | outspoken spouse of a recent president, aligning |
| OR give her a special advantage at the polls. | | | | herself with his triumphs and distancing herself |
| While the caucuses and primaries held so far are | | | | from his mistakes and image troubles. |
| not conclusive, the red states and the blue states | | | | - Rely on the thick skin she has developed after |
| face history's first true test of sending a woman | | | | decades in public and political life. After all, shards |
| to the White House (as something other than first | | | | from that glass ceiling (not to mention her |
| lady!). What does the pulse of the country say | | | | detractors' criticisms) could more than sting. |
| about Hillary as the first woman president? | | | | Breaking the Glass Ceiling of the White House is |
| Let's also review the approach a woman must | | | | going to take a powerful, magnetic, yet warm |
| take to break the world's most prestigious Glass | | | | personality. It is going to be a woman who can |
| Ceiling, and how corporate American interprets | | | | show leadership like John Kennedy and heart like |
| the "rules" involved. Can all this be applied to Hillary | | | | Ronald Reagan. Who decides if Hillary is the one? |
| and her history-making candidacy? | | | | The American voter will -- let's help them decide. |