Company: IBM
Date: 2009-05-01
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: current

We have become short-sighted.   We have not yet felt all the results of the past few months...
Pros: Marquis name for my CV.  Great benefits and decent wages.  Some incredibly smart people work here.
Cons: IBM does an incredible PR job of telling the world what a great place this is for women to work.  Unfortunately, that promise is not well executed in many parts of the org.   If you look at the majority of Executive women -- they are not in the power seats.  Yes, there are many many women VPs and Directors.  But - take a look at the roles they have and the influence they carry.  Not even CLOSE to equal.  There are obviously exceptions - which are trumpeted to the world.  But the 'old boys network' dominates and nothing happens unless they approve.  

While not unique to IBM,  tough women are still labeled the B word and tough men are super-stars.  
Double-standards can be observed on a regular basis.   

I was happier here when I knew less about this --- ignorance is bliss.  This is not sour grapes - as I have  been blessed with some great mentors.   However, it is disheartening and I find it extremely difficult to mentor younger women w/o being somewhat dishonest.   Our public face regarding gender diversity does not match our internal practices and/or reality.