Kevin O’Leary Prefers Investing in Women
by Miki Saxon
I love watching Shark Tank, whether the current season on ABC or reruns on CNBC.
My favorite sharks in order are Robert Herjavec, Barbara Corcoran and Daymond John.
My almost-least favorite shark is Mark Cuban, but it is Kevin O’Leary who I really can’t stand.
I have no problem with a shark saying no, but to listen to O’Leary tear down not only ideas, but also the entrepreneurs themselves makes me slightly ill. His criticism is rarely constructive and sometimes it is downright destructive — especially to women founders, or so it seems.
So you can imagine my amazement when I read an article in Entrepreneur Magazine where O’Leary said he preferred women CEOs.
“Women make better CEOs. All things being equal, given the choice between a woman and a man, I would pick the woman every time.” (…) “If I want high returns with low volatility, that equals a woman.”
Like I said, amazing; not original, but amazing.
There are reams of statistics and dozens of studies that prove having women in senior management roles and on the board positively affects the bottom line.
Companies that have more women on their boards and in their senior management teams aren’t just opening doors to gender equality. They’re reaping greater financial rewards.
Kevin O’Leary is emphatic that his only interest is making money. He has no interest in furthering diversity or leveling the playing field for women — but he prefers to invest in them.
That should provide a lot of creditability to the studies that are so often shrugged off or rationalized into oblivion.
Image credit: ABC Shark Tank
