Until I read the new book Influence: How Women’s Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World For the Better, by Maddy Dychtwald, I wasn’t aware that women may be the biggest change agent of the 21st century. I got a clue, though, when my oldest daughter, who is finishing up her major in Women’s Studies, snatched the book out of my hands as soon as I opened the package.
In 1986, Maddy Dychtwald co-founded Age Wave with her husband, Ken. Since that time, she has been actively involved in analyzing and forecasting demographic, lifestyle and consumer marketing trends. During the first decade, she helped grow the company from the ground up to a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Maddy sent me an advance copy of Influence, which went on sale this week, and I had the opportunity to ask her a few questions about it.
- Q: What are some of the more surprising results from your study?A: Well, I was surprised to learn that over the last two decades the increased employment of women has contributed more to the growth of the global economy than either China or India or even the growth of global technology…that’s big! I think what it points to is that right now we’re at a tipping point: a critical mass of women have had an explosive rise in education and earning power which has opened the door for them to exert their influence on the family, business, the workplace, the marketplace and the world at-large.
INFLUENCE 