Men and Women need different kinds of networks to succeed
https://hbr.org/2019/02/research-men-and-women-need-different-kinds-of-networks-to-succeed
In this day and age, it is widely known that building a strong network is paramount to success, particularly in the business world. In recruiting, it is often said that it’s not about what you know, but instead who you know. The connections you have to people in your field and the ways you leverage these connections are career defining.
As explained in the article, recent studies by researchers at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management suggests there is a difference between the networks of men and women who get executive leadership positions. On one hand, men benefit the most from centrality in a network. In other words, the most important factor in success is being connected to a wide array of people. In this way, centrality provides an unparalleled advantage – it allows for rapid access to information, from jobs to salaries. It is no secret that even today, men have an advantage when seeking promotions and getting leadership positions. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that women benefited the most from both centrality and, in addition, having a close-knit group of female connections, even when they had the same background and experience. This group of female friends allow for sharing of private information particularly geared towards women.
The article relates to what was covered in class in regards to networks, particularly those with strong ties. The close-knit group of female connections that was important to success for women in business acts as a network where the strong triadic closure property is satisfied, because these contacts are all strong ties. Forming these triadic closures help women advance professionally in the workplace due to the stereotyping and discrimination still present.