What do Mary T. Barra, CEO of General Motors, Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, Kathryn Marinello, CEO of Hertz Global Holdings, and Marillyn Hewson, CEO of Lockheed Martin have in common? Two words: Glass Cliff. Northouse (2016) states that glass cliff is when women are promoted to a precarious leadership position with high risk and criticism (p. 401). While the four executives had successfully pushed through the glass ceiling, an invisible barrier preventing women to reach executive leadership positions, they were then facing the glass cliff instead (Northouse, 2016).
Mary T. Barra was appointed as CEO to General Motors in December 2013, though she didn’t start her new role until January 15, 2014. Also, in January 2014 General Motors began recalling millions of cars due to the alleged deflective ignition switches which were linked to thirteen deaths (Trop, 2014). According to NPR, Barra learned about the defected ignition switch on January 31, 2014 (Basu, 2014). In other words, Barra was pushed through the glass ceiling right to the glass cliff. Psychologist Alex Haslam, who together with his colleague, psychologist Michelle Ryan, coined the term glass cliff in their 2005 paper by the University of Exeter, explains that “One reason why women find themselves in precarious positions is that they do not have access to the high-quality information and support that might warn them off” (Trop, 2014). Ginni Rometty was appointed as IBM CEO in January 2012, shortly after IBM announced the overly ambiguous plan to “reduced employees by more than three quarters in three years” (Cringely, 2012). Rometty was hired to take the fall for IBM’s failure and now it looks like the force out is imminent. Like Barra and Rometty, Kathryn Marinellowas appointed CEO amidst company’s troubles. Hertz Global Holdings missed the earnings forecast in all but two quarters since 2013 and is behind its plan to cut $350 million in cost. Lastly, Marillyn Hewson was appointed COO of Lockheed Martin soon after the CEO-in-waiting’s relationship scandal blew up. Less than 60 days later she was appointed CEO to Lockheed Martin. Beside the scandalous relationship affair, Lockheed was also going through financial crisis and analysts expected the revenues to fall further in 2013 and 2014 (Knowitt, 2013). Clearly, Hewson was facing the glass cliff, too.
It could be a coincident that the four women were appointed CEO during the crisis, however, their leadership stories fit the definition of glass cliff perfectly. They were all appointed to take care of a mess. Holy & Chemers (2008) assert that one eminent reason for the leadership gap is the stereotype expectations that “women take care and men take charge” (Northouse (2016), p. 404). In other words, the glass ceiling and the glass cliff will still exist as long as stereotype does. We need to join Gloria Steinem’s thinking and “…have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters” (Northouse (2016), p. 406).
Reference:
Basu, T. (2014, March 31). Timeline: A History Of GM’s Ignition Switch Defect. Retrieved April 10, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2014/03/31/297158876/timeline-a-history-of-gms-ignition-switch-defect
Carl Icahn Is ‘Excited’ About New Hertz CEO Kathryn Marinello. (2016, December 14). Retrieved April 10, 2018, from http://fortune.com/2016/12/14/carl-icahn-hertz-new-ceo-marinello/
Cringely, R.X., (2012, May 07). The Downfall of IBM. Retrieved April 10, 2018, from https://betanews.com/2012/04/27/the-downfall-of-ibm/
Knowitt, B., (2013, May 6). Marillyn Hewson Is Lockheed Martin’s Secret Weapon. Retrieved April 10, 2018, from http://fortune.com/2013/05/06/lockheeds-secret-weapon/
Northouse, P.G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and Practice. Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Trop, J. (2014, April 29). Is Mary Barra Standing on a “Glass Cliff”? Retrieved April 10, 2018, from https://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/is-mary-barra-standing-on-a-glass-cliff