The World’s Most Powerful Women: June 8

In a story published this morning on Coins2Day.com, I reported on a new insight on name bias from someone who’s had decades of experience recruiting employees.

Recently, women have reported getting limited responses to their CVs if they have ethnic sounding names. Some women have gone to lengths to make their names sound less ethnic, others have changed them to be more gender-neutral.

Changing your name on your CV would seem to raise ethical questions. But recruitment veteran Peter Tafler says it is fair game. “If somebody is being disadvantaged by having a particular name and they choose to change the name to something that takes away the disadvantage, I would be supportive of that,” says Tafler, managing director at London’s Handle Recruitment.

The issue of name bias can be an unconscious bias, so it’s not an easy workplace issue to tackle. But hiring managers should make sure they think carefully about their slate of candidates–and include both men and women.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA

Power in Angola
Isabel dos Santos, the businesswoman Forbes says is Africa's richest woman, has a new role: head of Angola's state energy firm Sonangol. London-educated Dos Santos, a billionaire, received the appointment from the president of Angola, who also happens to be her father.
Guardian

The frank Helen Mirren

Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren, who's been outspoken about Hollywood's obsession with youth, said she supports women who are redefining beauty by "claiming their own bodies." She mentioned Madonna, Pussy Riot, and Bonnie Raitt, among others.

Guardian

Female bosses in Ireland

Five Irish businesswomen open up about what they say to men in meetings, how they deal with tough workplace situations, and whether you have to be a "bitch" to be a boss. An insightful (and amusing) piece that's worth a read.

Independent

ASIA-PACIFIC

Lancome says no thanks

Hong Kong pop star Denise Ho has had her role in a marketing campaign cancelled by Lancome. Ho's performance was axed a day after the Global Times, a state-run tabloid, said Ho was "a Hong Kong and Tibet independence advocate," causing critics to say the luxury skincare company was bowing to political pressure. Ho said on Facebook the cancellation amounted to "self-censorship."

Financial Times

THE AMERICAS

Tweeting twins

In a recent study of the most influential CEOs on Twitter, just one woman landed in the top 20: Marissa Mayer. She seems to know what will get noticed on social media: A tweet she sent of her holding her twin baby girls was four times as popular as one she sent about Yahoo's results.

Financial Times

More Trump-eting

Donald Trump says he "broke the glass ceiling" for women in the construction business. But there are several reasons that comment is off the mark, including the fact that women make up less than 9% of the industry.

Coins2Day

YouTube's Susan Wojcicki on reinventing TV

YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, talks about growth as a priority over profits, how she plans to reinvent TV, and managing work-life balance. "Work-life separation is really important for productivity--being efficient at work and also trying to be really present when you're at home," she says.

Wall Street Journal

Krawcheck on the investing gap

Sallie Krawcheck, who recently launched Ellevest, the digital investment platform for women, has penned a piece in the American-Statesman in which she eloquently explains the gender investing gap. If you're looking for some insight on the issue, it's worth a read.

American Statesman