Susan Bulkeley Butler is an accomplished business woman who shaped her own future at a time when women were not taken seriously as business profesionals.  She joined Arthur Andersen & Co. as its first professional female employee in 1965, and 14 years later, was named the first female partner of its consulting organization, Andersen Consulting, now known as Accenture.  In 2001, Upside magazine named her to its list of “The 50 Most Remarkable Women in Technology” who have moved the industry “beyond the glass-ceiling cliché.”

Synopsis (taken from SBBinstitute.org)

As the 100-year anniversary of women winning the right to vote approaches on August 26, 2020, the “Decade for Women” ahead will re-assess how far we’ve come—and how far we still have to go.

To become “women who count,” women must think of themselves, think of others, and think big, contends author Susan Bulkeley Butler. Before and since breaking barriers to become the first woman partner at Accenture, Butler has passionately championed the cause of equality for women in education, in the workforce and in society.

In Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World, she shows how the world can become a better place in myriad ways with more involvement from women. Today’s world—with its wars, corporate ethics violations, economic meltdowns and societal strife—needs the unique strengths and attributes of women more than ever, Butler contends.

Women make up about half of the country’s population and half its work-force, yet account for only a small percentage of the leadership roles in government, business and beyond. Butler brings her experiences and insights directly to readers by showing how they can collectively use their strengths to improve the world.

Together, women must envision equality, build teams, take action, and help one another through mentoring, philanthropy, education and public service, according to Butler.

Then, and only then, she asserts, can women truly change the world and become “women who count.”

My Review:

As a sidenote, this is a very short book, about 130 pages.

I have to say that I loved this book!  While a compact book, there is so much information contained in these pages that made me realize how fortunate I am for women in history that have shaped the world as I know it today.  This book also made me take a look at my own life and wondering how I am contributing to the world for future generations.  What could I do in my life that might make a change that in 20+ years will be noted by others?

I enjoyed reading little bits about various historical women that paved the way for me and more than just those in the Women’s Suffrage movement.  Did you know the cotton gin idea was created by a woman, Catherine Littlefield Greene?  Knowing that she would never receive a patent for it that she shared that information with Eli Whitney who did patent the machine.  This is just one example that Susan notes in her book.

I’d say that this book could be read by anyone of any age.  There are some parts that might impact a woman that is older (18+) but there are many parts that younger women could take and work into their lives.

The Giveaway:

Leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win 1 of 2 copies of this book.  The contest is open until Friday October 8th and is open to all US and Canadian residents.