Monday, December 12, 2016

Why Women in Business Should Play Golf





As a trustee and co-chief executive officer of Otto Bremer Trust, Charlotte Johnson plays an important role in managing the trust's grant-making projects. When not busy with her responsibilities at Otto Bremer, Charlotte Johnson enjoys playing golf.

The statistic that only 20 percent of women play golf has remained unchanged for decades. Pam Swensen, chief executive officer of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, argues that it's important for more women to play golf, especially those who are involved in business.

Golf has long been considered the sport of business, as it provides valuable networking time for prospective clients and careers, thus leading to key business opportunities. Swensen notes that by not playing golf, women may not gain access to these same opportunities. In fact, a study by Catalyst found that being excluded from informal networks such as those formed while playing golf significantly impedes women’s career development. Swensen hopes that in the future, more women will develop the confidence to spend time outside of office hours on the golf course, thus benefiting from the unique business advantages that the sport can offer.