More Than 'Just a Secretary'
Page 2 of 4
While the media promotes its share of "dumb" secretaries, two of TV's most famous admins, Della Street from "Perry Mason" and Jane Hathaway from "The Beverly Hillbillies," were brainy women who managed their bosses. Likewise, the best way to overcome people's prejudices is to take on extra responsibilities and excel at them, Boulay says.
"You have to rewrite your CV," she says. "Once you've proven yourself, then you'll be accepted as being able to manage projects."
Whether or not you encounter stereotypes has less to do with what industry you're in than your boss's mind-set, Boulay says. While working at the same company, she had two different bosses -- one who valued and used the full spectrum of her skills and another who micromanaged her every task.
