Is there a need for reciprocity among
businesswomen?
At the Oct 2005 International Women’s Forum Conference in
Washington DC, Connie Glaser, author of “Swim With The Dolphins,”
commented on the need for reciprocity among businesswomen. Many
in the audience felt that it was a learned skill that is sorely
lacking in general. Do you agree? Why do you think it’s so?
If not, why not?
Marissa Thalberg
Founder and President
Executive Moms
emoms@executivemoms.com
 Women
still face such a complexity of issues in the workplace—not
the least of which are their continuing wage disparity and the unique
challenges faced by driven professional women who are also mothers.
Yet what’s most heartening is to see women in positions of
power who also have the confidence to lead by example and bring
some of the most positive “feminine” traits into the
workplace. Reciprocity falls under this umbrella, and yet it is
way more than just about being “nice”; the shrewdest
businesspeople, male and female, understand that building reciprocity
is one of the most powerful acts toward relationship-building and
deal-building that greases everyone’s wheels of progress.”
Ella T. Newman
Vice President, Private Banking/Special Industries
Bank of New York
enewman@bankofny.com.l
 Yes.
There is always a need to respond. It doesn’t have to be in
kind. But if someone does something for you, you need to acknowledge
it and indicate the result, or at least the appreciation for their
effort. These responses go beyond just woman, to woman but should
be given importance when one woman is reaching out to help another.
Even if the deed does not seem to require any response and the donor
does not expect anything in return, giving back in some way is important,
special, and fosters further goodwill. “Pass it forward,”
is a good concept to follow. So return those phone calls and e-mails.
Refer people and connect people with each other, whenever you can.
Cristina Caballero
President/CEO
Dialogue on Diversity
dialog.div@prodigy.net
 With
very few exceptions, I find that reciprocity is rare among women.
In fifteen years of working with women’s professional organizations,
I find that true collaboration and cooperation is sadly lacking.
Many women do reach out to others, but once they get what they came
for, they tend to disappear...they are not really geared for a mutual
support mode. It is quite disheartening to see the degree of self-absorbtion
involved. How truly discouraging...here we are, with 10,000 women’s
organizations who might join forces, but instead, we have 10,000
organizations each doing something different, dissipating resources,
when they might be working together to get something done.
 The
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