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CCCA_V7No3_CoverStory-FIN_CCCA 13-09-24 4:36 PM Page 25 End Game Cover The women of Breaking Through may represent 32 different ways to become general counsel, but they share the distinction of being women who made it all the way to the top in a demanding profession in which the odds were not always in their favour. In terms of percentages, they have done better than their female counterparts who remained in private practice. However, women have not been as successful as men in competing for leadership positions whether in-house in C-suite positions or leadership positions within the partnership in private practice. Inarguably, there remain institutional, societal, and cultural entrenchments against the promotion of women to these roles that an individual woman would be hard- pressed to overturn by herself. Still, it is just as clear that women can take a number of substantial actions to advance themselves or prepare themselves to advance. Women may be disinclined to play power politics, but they do possess a different kind of power for “winning” the game—the power of taking advantage of known tools and methods for moving ahead. This book is a manual and field guide for those tools and methods. Will you land the top spot if you have vision, drive, and determination? Will working hard, getting a mentor, taking a risk, and asking for what you want make you a “key” player? We guarantee nothing—but these are some of the essential ways that the women in this book got to be where they are today. Leaders are not necessarily born, but they can certainly be self-made. When there is no job, the ambitious woman will create one. Where there is risk and uncertainty, the confident woman will look beyond to the reward. For many of the women in this book, that reward took them to the GC’s office. For many others—now and in the future—it has taken them and will take them even further. Learn today, Apprendre Lead tomorrow pour mieux diriger Be regarded as both Être considéré comme conseiller ou strategic business partner FRQVHLOO¹UHMXULGLTXHGHFRQoDQFHet comme and trusted legal advisor. partenaire stratégique en affaires digne de foi. Learn more at Pour en savoir plus, visitez www.ccca-accje.org www.ccca-accje.org AUTOMNE 2013 CCCA Canadian Corporate Counsel Association 25