It's all about power

“Success without power is nothing,” according to Susan Wilson Solovic. She should know.

Twelve years ago, as vice president, director of corporate marketing at ITT Commercial Finance, Solovic was pulling down a six-figure income and was one of the highest-ranking women in the corporation. Still, her salary fell about $20,000 short of her male predecessors’ salaries, she says, and her name somehow never appeared on the invitation lists to the fancy company trips enjoyed by male colleagues.

She tried to ignore the unequal treatment, but found herself wondering why women, like herself, expect to work harder and still take a backseat to men in the corporate world. She vowed to start devoting her career to helping women in business obtain gender parity and personal power.

Solovic started a company called Susan-Says, and began serving as a business and marketing consultant, as well as a public speaker. She is a member of a national braintrust to shape the entrepreneurial mission for women business owners in the 21st century and facilitates programs for the Women Presidents’ Organization. She’s also the author of a new book, “The Girls’ Guide to Power and Success,” aimed at helping women break free of limiting stereotypes and self-defeating behaviors so they may excel in business going head-to-head with men.

Solovic will be visiting Columbus July 12 to give the keynote address at the National Association of Women Business Owners – Central Ohio chapter’s annual awards ceremony at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

“Women continue to fight the same battles over and over again because we do not understand the concept of power and how to leverage it,” she says. How to reach: Susan Solovic, [email protected] or (314) 361-2090