Fake It to Make It?

Did you know that men are more likely to overstate their abilities than women?

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending the Grace Hopper Conference in Portland, Oregon. It was a great opportunity to meet students, professionals, parents, teachers, and supporters – all in the field of computing! We had the chance to attend numerous info sessions ranging from topics like applying to graduate school to creating a start-up. Additionally, there were two inspiring keynotes given by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and Shirley Ann Jackson, President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Did you know that at many schools, computer science is fast becoming the hottest major on campus? According to Network World, "The nation's best undergraduate computer science programs are bracing for a record number of applications this fall, as more high school seniors are lured by plentiful jobs, six-figure starting salaries and a hipster image fostered by the likes of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg."

Did you know that a study of law firms that use numerical ratings systems for promoting associates finds that men are three times more likely than women to be promoted to partner at these firms? Although men and women junior attorneys received glowing narratives at about equal rates, the women with the glowing narratives were significantly less likely to advance to partner because their numerical ratings weren't correspondingly high.