Imagine It Forward

Imagine It Forward inspires businesses and individuals to challenge outdated thinking and ways of doing work by sharing the life and business experiences of Beth Comstock, one of America’s most innovative businesswomen.

It’s 1998 and Comstock’s career is booming forward. She’s already helped NBC News become a major media player and is only 38-years-old.

Things were about to get even crazier when Jack Welch, the CEO of GE, invited her to become the company’s vice president of corporate communications. Not anticipating this would be her toughest position yet, Comstock accepted.

She did know that it wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t realized how much intense sexism she would have to deal with.

GE was mostly men in the late 90s. It was so bad that when the company had a conference at a hotel, they converted the women’s restroom into a men’s. Comstock and the few other women had to use a makeshift bathroom near the kitchen.

Things were no better at headquarters where she didn’t get invites to vital meetings. Sometimes, the men even told Comstock how much they hated the idea of a woman in their realm.

Using her strengths proved useful, however, when she realized her introvertedness was an advantage. She could easily listen and observe, intelligently considering the conversations that the men wouldn’t let her participate in.

This made it possible for her to think more about the ideas and plans that they were throwing around than the men themselves. This distinction helped her not take it personally and instead focus on the topics they were discussing.

It’s easier to put our heads down and try to wait it out when tragedy strikes the world. We want to rely on what we know instead of trying new things. Sometimes, though, there are opportunities to shine and lift others hidden within the horrors. Just like for everyone else, September 11, 2001 began as a regular day for Comstock. Within the first few hours of the day, however, everybody, including the offices at GE was in crisis mode. Comstock realized that rather than sticking to what was familiar, what GE and the country needed was a beacon of hope. Not only were the company’s employees deeply shaken by the events, but their finances were as well. Comstock knew that an uplifting message was vital to the health of the entire workforce. Although almost everyone thought she was crazy, she pushed forward to put a full-page ad in print media. It depicted the Statue of Liberty with rolled-up sleeves stepping off her pedestal. The text outlined how America would stand unified to move ahead and never forget. It was just the message of hope that people needed, many of…