Why Different Is Better

Summary of the article `Why Different is better (Carroll

Carroll , incoming CEO of the international mining and metal company Anglo American believes that being different , or more specifically a woman in a man 's world and an extrovert at that has worked to her advantage throughout her career and being a woman has never proved to be a handicap , her love and knowledge of science however has played a role in smoothing the journey . In fact she believes that she owes being considered for the position of CEO at Anglo to her extrovert

nature because this only came about after an introduction that she herself initiated with Anglo 's chairman , Sir Mark Moody-Stuart in January 2006 at Davos

Although she acknowledges that she was at times judged to be unsuitable for a job because of her young age or relevant background , she argues that in the business world , one faces many such challenges and must find ways to deal with them . Throughout the article Carroll explains how she thinks experience gained at previous jobs will help her in her future at Anglo

Carroll has worked all through her career in male dominated industries such as oil and aluminum and while she admits that in the beginning of such a job in a leadership position there is an abundant display of skepticism on the part of colleagues and competitors , such things die down in a few months and performance remains as the measure of ability

At Anglo , where CEOs have traditionally been male and South African Carroll is neither and thus , even more different than she was at previous jobs , which she believes is a plus point due the fresh perspective that she would bring to Anglo , as well as an indication of the modern stance of the board of directors of a company which is operating in an industry which is considered conservative

At Anglo where the top concern is to optimally exploit its strengths world wide so as to become global in its outlook , Carroll believes that past experience in similar situations , for example at Alcan 's joint venture in China when she was the managing director of its Ireland business make her a competent person for the position of CEO

Only a few years ago , roughly four fifths of the Canadian aluminum company (of whose Ireland business she was managing director at that time ) Alcan 's metal asset centers were concentrated in Canada , while currently the same is sprawled over 20 countries , in many of which Alcan had no prior experience . Quoting an example of her role in a joint venture of Alcan in China , she claims that her ability of bringing together a worldwide corporation and motivating people is a great strength which will help her at Anglo , where the top concern is to optimally exploit its strengths world wide so as to become global in its outlook . The global concerns of Anglo 's business may require her to be in countries all across the world in...