Work Twice as Hard

I've noticed this in meeting after meeting, day after day.

Women. Want to succeed? Work twice as hard.

How does a woman thrive in the male-dominated world of technology?

``You have to be better,'' said Safra Catz, Oracle co-president and interim chief financial officer. ``You have got to work harder, work longer, be louder.''

Catz, one of Silicon Valley's most powerful tech executives, was answering a question about why so few women fill engineering cubicles at a Monday evening gathering of the Women's High-Tech Coalition. Her comments were received with knowing nods from 80 or so women.

Both Lofgren and Eshoo echoed Catz's comments that women often must work harder to prove their stripes. Eshoo noted that it's not uncommon for her to stay up until 1:30 a.m. to prepare for an upcoming congressional committee meeting. Then, she said, ``I'll hear my male colleagues say, `What's on the agenda here? Who's speaking?' ''

Imagine how this wears on you, every day of your career. Actually, no need to imagine, I'll tell you. It's exhausting.