Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, November 28, 1993                   TAG: 9311240292
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: F-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BY ROSEMARY METZLER LAVAN NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

BUSINESSWOMEN BITTER IN SURVEY ON SUCCESS

Three of every 10 said they would be making a bigger salary if they were men.

Another 13 percent said they would have a bigger title, 12 percent said they would get more respect and 10 percent said they would have more power.

These were among the findings of a first-ever survey conducted by the YWCA of the 1,350 members of its Academy of Women Achievers. The study was released as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of the AWA awards held last week in New York.

The 500 women who participated in the survey earned a median salary of $170,000 and averaged nearly 48 years of age.

A quarter of the respondents said their success was achieved because they simply "were better at their profession than most."

More than half of the respondents said they had to work harder and smarter than men to achieve their success.

Nancy Axthelm, executive vice president and director of broadcast production with Grey Advertising, said: "We all had to be better along the way to get here."

Axthelm, one of 124 AWA inductees, added: "The advertising business is more inclusive of women. Traditional businesses are much further behind in promoting and encouraging women."

The women said they made mistakes climbing the corporate ladder.

Nearly 30 percent reported they stuck with one job too long. Another 20 percent said they lacked the confidence to take risks or assume leadership.

"I wish I was more assertive and aggressive," said Jean Stein, senior vice president of the CIT Group, also honored. "I am still working on it. But if you come across too strong, you are categorized as bitchy."

Nearly a quarter of the women said if they had the chance they would do a better job promoting themselves at the workplace. And nearly 10 percent said they would pay more attention to office politics.

About 40 percent of those respondents said they would leave the work force if they could afford to make the move. More than half explained they need more time for their families and themselves. More than a third said they were sick of bumping up against the glass ceiling.

"Women have to contend with the glass ceiling," said honoree, Jannie Poullard warden of James A. Thomas Center on Ryker's Island. "I certainly hit one. For seven years I was a deputy warden. That is an exceptionally long time. All the men deputies were promoted much faster. There were never any good reasons. My evaluations were always outstanding."