Christine Eibs, Former CEO, Inspires Young Women To Work Hard

Christine Eibs founded the non-profit E&Co 20 years ago and never expected to become CEO. She reflects on the importance of female leadership in male-dominated workplaces. Eibs faced challenges as a woman rising through the ranks, with men advancing more quickly despite similar skills. In 2009, she was offered the CEO role at E&Co, giving her confidence in her expertise beyond her gender. Now a UN advisor, Eibs encourages young women to pursue leadership and inspired the "Ban Bossy" campaign promoting assertiveness in girls.

Uploaded by

emilysinger

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

54 views

Christine Eibs, Former CEO, Inspires Young Women To Work Hard

Uploaded by

emilysinger

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 7

SEO: Christine Eibs talks future of female CEOs

Christine Eibs founded the non-profit E&Co 20 years ago and never dreamt her role as
vice president would evolve into a job as chief executive officer. Now a senior advisor
for sustainability at the United Nations, Eibs reflects on the importance of female
leadership.
Christine Eibs argues importance of female leadership in male-dominated
workplace.

Christine Eibs, former CEO, inspires young women to work hard

Christine Eibs office window in 760 United Nations Plaza in New York City,
New York, displays magnificent views of the NYC skyline. On the walls are photos of
Christine with Bill Clinton, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ronald Reagan

I had learn the hard way

that saying no to something
professionally is not the end
of the world.
-Christine Eibs

and, most importantly, her two children and her

husband. Her family portrait offers a glaring
contrast to the photos of her achievements
because they remind her of the personal

sacrifices she made for professional success.

After years of what appeared like measured progress in her field, 2009 came in a
whirlwind of transitions, changes and a job offer to be chief executive officer of the
company she founded. While Christine has since moved on from the position, the
proposal gave her the confidence she needed to step out of the shadow of gender. Her
new senior leadership role was an indication for Christine that her colleagues saw more
than her gender; they acknowledged her expertise.
(more)

E. Singer WR #12 TA #2 COMM231-0101, A#3 Mainbar Female CEOs, p. 2

In the face of adversity

During her junior year at Rutgers University, Christine
took a semester long internship position in Washington, D.C., in
the office of a congressman. On the first day she met her
coordinator, Joan Shaffran-Prince. Joanie taught me about
whom I wanted to be as a woman.
A resolute role model is exactly what Christine needed to
jump start her desire to become a leader. She did not know yet
what type of leader she would be, but her determination took her
to a job at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey after

Christine stands in her

office for an article in the
New York Times about
E+Co in 2010. Photo
courtesy of Christine Eibs.

college.
Christines experience at the Port Authority took her one step forward and two
steps back. Her confidence levels dropped when she arrived at the male-dominated
organization. Everywhere I looked the women did their best to dress like men. I didnt
understand, and in the effort I loss my identity.
While none of her colleagues ever openly categorized her by gender, she saw men
with the same skill levels move up more quickly in the organization. In 1988, Christine
bought a shirt that said, Women belong in the Houseand the Senate. She never wore
it to work.

(more)

E. Singer, WR #12 TA #2, COMM231-0101, A#3 Mainbar Female CEOS, p. 3

New beginnings
Philip LaRocco, a colleague of Christines at the Port Authority, noticed her hard
work. He asked Christine to be involved in his entrepreneurial adventure, and in 1994
E+Co was established. E+Co is a non-profit whose business model is to bring clean
energy to developing countries through
investments in energy entrepreneurs.
With a position as vice president,
Christine and her colleagues took E+Co to the
pinnacle of their field. That same year
Christine and her husband Steve welcomed
Christine answers calls at her desk at E+Co
with Philip LaRocco. Photo courtesy of
Christine Eibs.

two children into their family: twins!

Work and home became a balancing act.

Christine admits that the early years of her childrens life were a perpetual state of
compromise. Her contacts in other organizations did not understand why she passed up
business trips to be with her family. Meanwhile her male co-workers left the kids at
home. I do think that there is still an expectation that females are the nurturer and the
primary caregiver whether they work or not, she says.
The truth comes out
Christine acknowledges that the female stereotypes felt the most embellished
when she dealt with clients of other cultures. They were taken aback by how assertive I
was, as if they had never had a female lead them before.
(more)

E. Singer, WR #12 TA #2, COMM231-0101, A#3 Mainbar Female CEOS, p. 4

Christine did not grasp how much her colleagues respected her as a woman and a
leader until she was appointed CEO of E+Co.
Christine is a role model because she is one of few women to found and lead a
global organization that made sustainable positive impacts in the lives of people in
undeveloped countries around the world, said Jacki Robinson, a former employee at
E+Co. When Christine Eibs calls, people come. This validation sparked self-confidence.
She had a realization that her leadership platform gave her an invaluable opportunity to
help other women like herself.
Spread the word
Today Christine says she has found the ideal balance between doing what she
loves and devoting time to family. I had learn the hard way that saying no to something
professionally is not the end of the world, she said. Putting my family first helped me
come to terms with my authority.
Now Christine is a senior advisor to the Secretary General of the United Nations
on sustainability and energy access. In retrospect she says her toughest journey was
coming to terms with her identity, as both a leader and a woman. I was taught leadership
and femininity couldnt coexist, she said. It took time but I learned to break that mold
so I could be truly happy.
Christine takes every opportunity to pay it forward by talking to young women
about their futures at her alma mater, Rutgers University.
(more)

Emily Singer WR #12 TA #2 COMM231-0101 Mainbar Female CEOs, p. 5

Her message is that discrimination starts, and ends, in the classroom. By inspiring
women with her experiences, Christine seeks to drive the movement towards a genderblind society and equality in the workplace.

###

Christine Eibs supports Ban Bossy Campaign

Eibs encourages young women to get involved in ban bossy movement
Christine Eibs, a senior advisor on sustainability
to the Secretary General of the United Nations, is a
proud female leader. She has always possessed
assertiveness, but her male colleagues did not
necessarily respect her for the quality.
The Sheryl Sandberg inspired Ban Bossy
Campaign, was not a force during Christines fight
against gender discrimination. In recent years there has

Christine Eibs speaks about sustainability as

CEO of E+Co at the Zayed Future Energy
Conference in 2011. Photo courtesy of
Christine Eibs.

been more of a focus on the attributes that women leaders bring to the work force, she
says. Today the campaign provides leadership advice to girls, parents, teachers, managers
and educators.
The site emphasizes partnerships with celebrities including Beyonce and Jennifer
Garner as well as companies like Lifetime and Girl Scouts. Men and women alike can
demonstrate their support of ending discrimination against assertive females through the
ban bossy social media crusade. The existing stereotype is that females who speak their
mind are bossy, while males are praised for forcefulness.

(more)

E. Singer WR #12 TA #2 COMM231-0101, A#3 Sidebar Ban Bossy, p. 2

Action and guidance
In comic books and superhero stories the number of heroes outweighs the
heroines. Ban Bossy features articles and videos on topics expanding opportunities for
girls in STEM and a list of movies with strong girls and women, all to promote female
empowerment. You can start your own circle, or small peer group that meets regularly
to study and learn together.
Christine has started her own circle, an investment club with other female
financiers. The women discuss their entrepreneurial ventures and experiences buying and
selling stock. Sometimes all someone needs is a friend to say, You can do this! I
believe in you, Gina Rodolico, a member of Christines investment club, said.
More women are articulating their experiences and becoming role models as a
campaign like Ban Bossy continues to grow and find a place in society. Yet, according
to Sandberg, women make 10 percent of the income and own 1 percent of the property.
Women are 50 percent of the population, but are 5 percent of the Fortune 500 CEOs.
Christine has a daughter herself, and she imparts advice to the young women that look up
to her: Bossy holds girls back. Dont be stunted by what other people think.
Learn more about the Ban Bossy campaign by visiting the website. Find out
more information about Christines experience on the Profile of a Female CEO
website.

###