In my time (and in an era when it was unfashionable to do so) I frequently promoted women over men into positions of authority and I did so for reasons close to the heart of the small businessman: practicality, commitment, loyalty. For example, women don’t ask the same questions as men, questions like ‘Which model and size of car do I get?’ and ‘How about expenses?’ Rather they want to know what they will be doing, what responsibilities they will be taking on. They are focused on personal performance to the exclusion of trappings (which is not to imply they don’t appreciate the trappings) and this is why women excel in small business. Their scale of priorities is smack on for commercial success.