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Carly Fiorina

Written by: Vicki Donlan

Article Overview: We might not ever know for sure if Carly Fiorina heard Donald Trump’s trademarked words – “Your Fired! ” But what we do know for sure is Carly has left Hewlett Packard after six years as chairman and CEO at the request of the board of directors. Both businesswomen and businessmen across the country know we have lost a charismatic, high profile executive who was never afraid to stand up for her convictions.

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Carly Fiorina

We might not ever know for sure if Carly Fiorina heard Donald Trump’s trademarked words – “Your Fired! ” But what we do know for sure is Carly has left Hewlett Packard after six years as chairman and CEO at the request of the board of directors. Both businesswomen and businessmen across the country know we have lost a charismatic, high profile executive who was never afraid to stand up for her convictions.

Like any senior executive , Carly Fiorina had her fans and her enemies. Celebrity comes with positives and negatives. Carly staked her career on taking HP in a new direction by pushing through the acquisition of Compaq Computer Corporation in 2002. The deal was highly contested from both sides and she faced an uphill battle as she fought to lessen HP’s dependence on the imaging division.

Carly is always referred to as a “passionate” leader and a role model for senior executive women. The media has done its best to scrutinize her from every angle and use her as a badge for women’s leadership in the US. In fact, she is a role model for all senior executives, male and female, and is being held accountable for her decisions.

When HP missed its numbers in the third quarter and the price of shares took a fall , the writing may well have been on the proverbial wall. Boards of directors hold CEOs responsible for their shareholders. At some point time runs out for the leader.

In this case, it may not be the strategy but the timing of the strategy that led the board to ask for Carly’s resignation. Carly Fiorina did not get her job because she is a woman or lose her job because she is a woman. She was the first, in every interview and every speaking event; to make it clear she played no gender card. Business is business; there are no male and female divisions.

So, as women all over the country talk today about losing one more role model in the corner office , let’s hope we take some satisfaction in that her severance package shows no reflection of her gender - $21.1 million.

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About the Author: Vicki Donlan
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Vicki Donlan is former publisher and founder of Women’s Business Boston, a 25,000 controlled-circulation newspaper devoted to women in business in the Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island region. She is a regular guest discussing women in business on New England Cable News' Business Day. Her first book HER TURN Why It's Time For Women To Lead in America was published in September 2007 by Praeger Publishing.

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Related Forum Posts
Re: Going Back to Work after After Having Kids Re: Going Back to Work after After Having Kids - But what about those of us who LOVE going to work? My son is almost 5 and I think its been great for me to do other things that make me happy. when I am home, I am home - and spending as much quality time with my family that I can, and want too.. And....since you mentioned you have no children....Has that caused you to receive negative perceptions from other women?? I think about Carly Fiorina from HP. She was brutally critized for not having children... Like we are morally obligated in order to be a complete woman. Barbara, have you seen and felt this?? J


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