Shane Parrish

Well, fair pay based solely on performance, promotions based solely on merit, not gender, not race, not personal connections, credit for good ideas regardless of who proposed them, public recognition for achievement, flexibility for family responsibilities, a support system that actually supported women rather than competed with them.

The second list started to grow longer and longer.

So she looked at it and had an epiphany.

She later called this one of the most important moments of her life.

She thought, wouldn't it be marvelous if someone would actually start such a company?

Then the follow-up.

Why not me?

This wasn't material for a book.

This was a business plan.

She would start that company.

Context is everything.

The year is 1963.

Women could not get credit cards without a male co-signer.

Banks refused to issue credit even to married women because their income was considered unstable.

They might get pregnant and quit working.

Help wanted ads were segregated by gender in major newspapers.

Management positions, executive roles, anything with real authority appeared under help wanted male.

Women could look under help wanted female.

Only 5-7% of US businesses were owned by women, and most of those were small retail shops or beauty salons.

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act that prohibited credit discrimination based on sex wouldn't pass for 11 more years.