Ms Sugrue still gets salespeople walking up to her and asking if she can direct them to the boss. Often they're looking for a guy to talk to. I do it, give them a chap to talk to. But despite the problems they have encountered the women say there is increasing awareness of what women bring to management. According to Ms Wilkinson, today's working environment is a win-win for women.
Women are definitely more empathetic and that is an important thing in business.
Five years ago Mrs Southey was one of the few women at town functions, something she and her male colleagues found difficult. At lunch they were all drinking beer and wine but felt I should be drinking orange juice. I just about died. Now, there are not only many women at the functions, they're often the guest speakers. The New Zealand Institute of Management has noticed a growing number of women taking part in its courses aimed at medium to senior level managers.