Someone I worked with over a decade ago recently asked me to be a reference for her. My interaction with this individual was marginal at best--I was the board chair of a nonprofit and she was the bookkeeper. Our interaction was limited to a review of the financials she produced, which the executive director typically presented to the board. Before I declined her request, I thought about what I would say when I was contacted by a prospective employer. I ran down my list of

Friends and business associates who know me well will say I'm a passionate advocate for equality. My decision to not be a member of an "executive women's group" wasn't really a decision at all. Rather, it was an evolution of thought that brought me around to declining several invitations to join similar such groups. The question always in my mind is "why can't we all simply be people?" We need to resist the urge to accept the labels society imposes and take an active stan