The McGraw-Hill Companies in San Mateo, CA, recently announced the "Top 100 Women in Computing" award for 1996. Inaugurated last year, the award recognizes those women in the computing industry who have shown outstanding technical expertise and management achievement.
They have been nominated by their peers, including last year's Top 100 Women in Computing. The selection process emphasizes not only technology and management background but also other accomplishments outside and inside their organizations. This year, most of the women selected are managers of information systems (IS) departments, although some are prominent in the areas of research and consulting.
"We are recognizing the Top 100 Women in Computing... because of the immense contribution of these women in leveraging technology to enhance business while facing organizational challenges in this male-dominated field," said Michela O'Connor Abrams, vice president and group publisher at The McGraw-Hill Companies.
A number of honorees this year share a background in open systems, and five women have especially close ties with the UniForum Association. Jeanne Baccash, assistant vice president of enterprise network and systems management at AT&T GIS in Lincroft, NJ, is currently on the UniForum Board of Directors, and chairs the Technical Steering Committee. Baccash has played a leading role in developing Spec 1170, the suite of application programming interfaces for Unix.
Another honoree, Judith Hurwitz, is the head of Hurwitz Consulting Group and the publisher of Client/Server Tool Watch in Newton, MA. Over the years, Hurwitz has established herself as an important Unix analyst and commentator on the Unix industry. She has hosted numerous UniForum conference sessions and now serves as an advisor to UniForum. Hurwitz admitted that she has felt "like a pioneer" as a woman in the computer industry. Oftentimes, she still finds herself to be the only woman at meetings, and she points out that women are still not found in the number-one positions in corporations. "Being a woman, you sometimes have to open a lot of the doors yourself, and sometimes it takes longer to prove yourself," she said. She added, however, "I've always gone on the premise that if I were smart and worked hard and proved myself, that things would work out for me." She also emphasized that "women have a responsibility to go beyond expectations. It may be hard, but if you're good at what you do and can prove yourself, there are many exciting opportunities."
Donna Van Fleet, vice president of AIX systems development for IBM, shares much of Hurwitz's optimism. Van Fleet is currently head of AIX development at the company's Austin, TX, facility. She also serves on the UniForum board. When asked what the recognition means to her, Van Fleet replied, "I'm pleased that others think that I've made good use of the many advantages that I've been given. If I've been able to do something good for the industry, it's a reflection of what IBM has given to me." Van Fleet attributed her success to the company she keeps. An IBM veteran of 27 years, Van Fleet said that it is IBM--which has been the pioneer in promoting women to upper management. "I've been blessed with working with a company where each person has been given the opportunity to excel to the level of his or her capabilities. I've never felt like a pioneer because IBM has created an environment where IBM has been the pioneer."
Another perspective is provided by Clarice Marie Burch, director of conferences at Softbank Comdex of Needham, MA. Softbank Comdex is a producer of information technology trade shows and events, including the annual UniForum Conference and Exposition. Burch is a past UniForum board member, having served two terms as chief financial officer and executive vice president. "It's a tremendous honor and recognition," Burch said. "I've been in the industry 30 years, and I think the award is a good example for younger women coming up. It's also a good example of the computer industry leading the way in recognizing women's talents. If this recognition continues, within five years there shouldn't be any need for an award of just the top 100 women. Women will be equally represented in the top 100 achievers, and such a list [for women only] won't be necessary." She added, "I just want to see more women utilizing their talents and receiving more recognition."
Pamela Gray is president of The Winta Group in Mill Valley, CA, a consulting group that currently focuses on data warehousing. Gray has been at the center of UniForum and open systems development for more than a decade. She has been president of UniForum twice, and she founded UniForum in England in 1982. "The award was quite a surprise," she said. "I feel pleased because the nomination is from industry people, so it says something about the support one has in the industry."
Gray was candid in describing the current state of the industry. When asked if there is still a glass ceiling for women, she replied "absolutely." Gray also said that being an independent entrepreneur like herself is almost the only way for a woman to be her own boss. "Many women get to senior positions. They might be number three or number two. But they aren't number one." She pointed out that the industry has made strides in promoting women, but in most corporations, women still only reach a certain rank, usually at the department level, and usually only in certain departments such as internal IS, human resources or marketing communications. At the very top, the industry is still run by businessmen. "When it gets to the board level and the business partners who control the money," she said, "you don't find the women." This situation will change, she believes, but not in the immediate future. In the meantime, she said, women will simply have to "keep working" to prove themselves.