cover image Women of the Street: Making It on Wall Street--The World's Toughest Business

Women of the Street: Making It on Wall Street--The World's Toughest Business

Sue Herera. John Wiley & Sons, $24.95 (208pp) ISBN 978-0-471-15331-3

The host of CNBC's Business Tonight presents 14 interviews with women investment professionals who have made it to the top on Wall Street. Although all the interviewees comment on their financial strategies, Herera smartly keeps the focus on the personal factors that enabled them to enter a male preserve and thrive. Several of the women cite supportive parents; others, such as Elizabeth Mackay (Bear Stearns) and Linda Bradford Rasche (LBR group), mention that being married to men in the business who understand the stresses of their jobs allows them to lead rewarding lives outside the office. Surprisingly, only one interviewee, Mary Farrell (Paine Weber), talks about what Herera refers to as ""blatant sexual discrimination on the Street."" Perhaps the most interesting and important information elicited from these women, however, is their near universal belief that traditional feminine attributes have contributed to their success. As Herera puts it in her introduction, they have made ""a business advantage"" out of their ""effort to be responsive, focus on customer needs, and avoid the hard sell."" All the women interviewed say they love their demanding work; through Herera's diligent presentation, they will provide inspiring role models for those who would enter the field. (Jan.)