{"id":3907,"date":"2007-07-01T10:14:01","date_gmt":"2007-07-01T14:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=3907"},"modified":"2020-03-04T09:45:28","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T14:45:28","slug":"florida-businesses-flourish-with-women-at-the-helm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2007\/07\/florida-businesses-flourish-with-women-at-the-helm\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida businesses flourish with women at the helm."},"content":{"rendered":"
Women-led businesses make a substantial contribution to the economy of the state according to a recently released study titled Florida<\/em>\u2019s Women-Led Businesses, 2007<\/em>. Conducted by the College of Business Administration, the Center for Leadership, and the Metropolitan Center\u2014all part of Florida International University\u2014along with The Commonwealth Institute South Florida, the survey included responses from 127 \u00a0women-led businesses with a combined state economic impact of more than $1.8 billion and a combined payroll of about 40,000 employees.\u00a0 The respondents held one of the following titles: \u00a0president, CEO, chair of the board, and\/or primary owner of a for-profit, Florida-based organization.<\/p>\n Research builds on work that culminated in the initial report. <\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThis year\u2019s survey reaffirms what we learned in our report last June about the breadth and impact of women-led businesses on our state,\u201d said Joyce J. Elam<\/strong>, executive dean of the college and co-director of the Center for Leadership.<\/p>\n Among the findings about the state\u2019s women leaders:<\/p>\n More than an update, report adds new areas of exploration.<\/em><\/p>\n In addition to the results of the survey,\u2014the report includes a list titled \u201cTop 50 Women-Led For-Profit Organizations in Florida.\u201d This year\u2019s effort also captured extensive data on the demographics of women to better understand the context in which they lead and work.<\/p>\n Significantly, the 2007 version includes an analysis of the women\u2019s leadership skills, based not on revenues but rather on their answers to two well-established leadership questionnaires. The first, the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ), was designed to distinguish among three types of leadership behaviors\u2014transformational, transactional, and passive\/avoidant.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of the women answering the questions embodied transformational leadership qualities to a very high degree.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014Joyce J. Elam<\/strong>, executive dean, College of Business Administration; co-director, Center for Leadership<\/p>\n \u201cTransformational leadership includes having charisma, being an inspirational motivator, providing intellectual stimulation to employees, and connecting to them as individuals,\u201d Elam said. \u201cMost of the women answering the questions embodied transformational leadership qualities to a very high degree.\u201d<\/p>\n The second, the Psychological Capital index (PsyCap), looks at four leadership qualities that relate to performance: confidence, hope, optimism, and resiliency.<\/p>\n \u201cOn a six-point scale, the women scored above five on all the measures with confidence the highest,\u201d she said. \u201cTherefore, the women we surveyed show very positive leadership qualities based on both questionnaires.\u201d<\/p>\n An awards ceremony took place on June 13, 2007, at Parrot Jungle Island during which Elam shared key findings from the study and handed out certificates to those leaders among the top fifty who were able to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n
\nWomen among Florida\u2019s Top 50 at Women-Led Businesses Luncheon on July 13, 2007.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n
\n
\n\n\n
\n \n
\nJoyce J. Elam<\/em><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n