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Editor's Note: Hard Work And Talent
by Mary Welch
March 1, 2007
Five years of celebrating women's success
dear friend of mine, a senior vice president at a Fortune 100 company, went for an interview
for a lateral position at an Atlanta-based Fortune 100 company.The person who interviewed her
looked over her stellar resume and said,"You've climbed the corporate ladder rather quickly. How do
you explain that?" To which she replied, "You mean besides talent and hard work?"
Another friend told me that when the bank she worked for was acquired, her new boss looked at
the 50-something woman and asked if "she had five more good years in her."
Those are true stories.
And you wonder why a magazine such as "Atlanta Woman" is so vitally needed? SO vital to women
of all ages, sexual orientation, and race/nationality.Atlanta is a diverse town and the corporate
citizens - both big and small - here support diversity. They want to see women of all races and
creeds in our pages. Our readers want to know how women have made it in business and what issues
face all businesspeople - but especially women. Our readers are making the journey up the corporate
ladders or taking the entrepreneur trek.They want to know women who took the step ahead of them -
and how to help the women one step below.
So that is why Atlanta Woman is going to keep profiling women who have demonstrated talent
and hard work - and some who just show some great potential.
We will do what isn't found often elsewhere.We will support women. Here's a case and point. I
came home recently and found my beloved dog, Beaver, had died. I didn't know what to do, and then
remembered that the magazine had done a story on Christine Hunsaker and her company, Paws,Whiskers
& Wags. Christine grew up in a family of morticians and was appalled at the treatment her
deceased dog was going to get on her final journey to the "Rainbow Bridge."
So she did what any good Atlanta Woman would do, she started her own company. She came to my
house and handled Beaver and the situation with such sensitivity and professionalism.When I went to
pick up Beaver's remains, she had a table full of business cards."These are all women who have
businesses involving pets - groomers, sitters, vets.They're all women-owned businesses and we
support each other."
That is what women need to do, and that is what Atlanta Woman tries to do every month. It's
been a long journey. Five years. If you look at the newspapers and magazines five years ago, there
was something missing - women.There were very few stories about women achieving success.Through the
years, the women of Atlanta Woman have sought out and found stories of amazing women.Women who have
started their own businesses; women who have shattered the corporate glass ceiling, and women who
have balanced careers with family - whether that family involved a husband/partner, kids or the
four-legged type. Any combination.
So to all those who have been involved with Atlanta Woman - our readers, advertisers, to the
women - and men - who have supported us, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Our journey is a simple one.We will write about and highlight women who have achieved their
place in the world through talent and hard work.
Mary Welch, Editor mwelch@lpgi.net
