April 24, 2000

More and more women are rising to the top in the workplace, not just cracking that proverbial glass ceiling, but busting right through it. News specialist Jill Atwood has more on a new report that has women holding their own in the businesses world.

Analysts point to a number of different factors, including the growing number of single moms and two income households in the workforce. And right now females make up 51% of the population.

Once seen as only phone clerks and typists, women have come a long way in the workforce. From administrative professionals to seats on corporate boards, they're unmistakenly making their mark in a so-called man's world.

Nan DeMars/Assoc. of Admin. Proffesionals: "IT'S NO LONGER A ME TARZAN YOU JANE WORLD."

According to the latest government estimates, there were more than 7 million women in fulltime, executive, administrative or managerial positions in 1998. That's a 29% jump from 1993.

Lisa Herbold is the CEO of a consignment furniture store called Home Again. In other words, she's one of 74,000 women here in Utah with the motivation and drive to own her own business.

Lisa Herbold/Owner, Home Again: "YOU JUST HAVE TO GO FOR IT. I THINK WOMEN HAVE INCREDIBLE INTUITION. YOU JUST HAVE TO FOLLOW YOUR HEART AND LISTEN TO YOUR HEART."

As an accomplished business woman she's had her tough times, balancing the budget and the bottom line for years, but now she's finally come out on top.

Lisa Herbold/Owner, Home Again: "I ALSO THINK WOMEN, YOUNGER WOMEN AND SINGLE WOMEN, CAN GET INTO THE WORKFORCE AND PROVE THEMSELVES, AND THAN HAVE A FAMILY AND HAVE EVERYTHING. IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET BETTER."

Now we have to be careful not to confuse upward mobility with money, because as far as salaries go women are still lagging behind in that category.