Women who mean business: it's a balancing act.

• Author: Hume, Barbara R.
• Position: Profiles of six Utah businesswomen

WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS

It's a Balancing Act

Much has been said--and written--about the effect of women on the American business scene. Some consider the demographic changes occurring in the workplace simply a reflection of today's realities--a consequence of women striving to achieve their natural potential. This often requires a great balancing act between the demands of a personal life which may involve a family and the demands of the workplace.

Here, Utah Business looks at some real women holding down real jobs in Utah's real workplace--they are in different life situations and businesses, from vice president to company owner. What do these women contribute to--and receive from--Utah's business environment?

Focusing on the Goal

Susan Mickelsen is vice president of corporate relations at Evans & Sutherland. This firm designs and builds large computer systems and applications for pilot training and for engineering and scientific applications.

Mickelsen, like many people in today's work force, has found herself in a field far different from the one she originally trained for. She worked for Dave Evans, founder of Evans & Sutherland, when a student at the University of Utah. After finishing graduate school and pursuing other goals for 10 years, she returned to work for Evans.

Her job involves shareholder relations, dealing with the public, and facilities planning and operations. She reports to the chief financial officer of the company.

Although single, Mickelsen hasn't opted to devote her entire life to climbing the corporate ladder. She has three adopted children: Lori, 22; Alan, 3; and Matthew, 1. Adopting and raising these children has been her "single greatest challenge and brought her greatest rewar," she reports.

"I have an entirely different view of the working world and how to live a balanced life since I adopted my children," she says. "I enjoyed putting in the long hours it took to be successful in the business world, but now I see the great need for business to be aware of the family needs of employees. In general, the policy setters in business don't have primary responsibility for young families and don't recognize the pressures."

Mickelsen has a nanny who comes in to care for her two younger children, but like all single parents, between her home and work responsibilities she puts in a 16-18 hour day.

Mickelsen feels that women offer a different perspective and often different skills than men in the workplace, a much-needed diversity that needs to be given equal voice and equal pay.

"Women can get ahead if they really want to, if they set clear achievement goals, work hard, and make sure people know they want to get ahead. I don't think women get automatic consideration for advancement the way men do. They have to really let it be known that they are working hard and want to move up. You don't get what you don't ask for in business."

Mickelsen is a good example of a woman who knows what she wants--and isn't afraid to let people know.

Tailoring the Workplace

Cheryl Snapp is the founder and president of Snapp and Associates, a public-relations consulting firm for high-tech companies throughout the United States. Her company's clientele includes Intel Corp., Codenoll Technologies, Notework Corp., and PowerCore.

Snapp had achieved a position as public-relations manager at a large high-tech firm when she decided to leave to start her own small business. "I don't feel that the corporate environment is favorable to mothers," says Snapp. "Women can be a great resource to the business world, but the corporate environment isn't set up to effectively take advantage of the skills we offer. That leaves a great opportunity for woman-owned businesses, where we can suit the work environment to our own situations."

Snapp says she doesn't see this situation as prejudice so much as inexperience. "Corporate managers aren't used to working with women so they don't know how to leverage what women have to offer," she explains. "They've set up the same type of working environment for women that they've always had for men. I wouldn't say it's intentional; it's just that corporations haven't yet learned how to use that resource to its best advantage."

Currently, Snapp's company has four full-time workers and one part-time employee. The hub of the business is Snapp's home office, where there are never more than three people working at a time...