They felt devalued, invisible, underpaid, and overlooked for advancement. Some reported having difficulty finding VC funding for their ventures. The downside for women is that we have not made a lot more progress. Men have forced the old-boys network into the new economy. They are slower to recognize the value of collaboration, even among competitors.
Men continue to do their business through the old-boys network.
Also, the conflict between IT and E-Business plays out a traditional masculine vs. feminine cultural conflict. Dominated by young, single, childless people, especially white men-little respect for or acknowledgement of those who have come before or who have knowledge to disseminate. Gross amounts of hubris on all sides. Long working hours, generally mediocre benefits. From a leadership perspective, the new economy sometimes looks a lot like the old, old economy, except dressed more casually.