--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started, there were very few women…" description: "\"When I started, there were very few women at the managing director level and very few who had families, which is something that was important to me. So..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ruth-porat-17409_director_when-i-started-there-were-very-few-women_1884672.jpg" --- # When I started, there were very few women at the managing… ![“When I started, there were very few women at the managing director level and very few who had families, which is something that was important to me. So it's not like, when I looked up, I could say, 'Well, that's who I want to be.'” quote by Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ruth-porat-17409_director_when-i-started-there-were-very-few-women_1884672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ruth-porat-17409_director_when-i-started-there-were-very-few-women_1884672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/13d/ruth-porat-17409_director_when-i-started-there-were-very-few-women_1884672.jpg) > “When I started, there were very few women at the managing director level and very few who had families, which is something that was important to me. So it's not like, when I looked up, I could say, 'Well, that's who I want to be.'” [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early scarcity of women leaders with families made role models rare, highlighting the need for visible examples. **In simple terms:** Lack of role models. Key Takeaway Create and share diverse leadership paths. Themes gender leadership family balance Mood inspirational pragmatic Type business motivational When to use this quote - career mentoring - HR policy - work‑life integration - networking Key Concepts organizational sociology gender studies Questions to Reflect On - How can companies support parents? - What barriers remain for women leaders? A Different Perspective Systemic bias can still limit opportunities despite role models. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Director](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [As a director the first level of management is people. 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Now when kids get in trouble at school, the teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-danza/look-when-i-got-in-trouble-in-school-i-got-in-trouble-at-home-now/) [Tony Danza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-danza/) > [We started to have more women and little girls in our audience, where it started to be 40 percent female that sat in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-bella/we-started-to-have-more-women-and-little-girls-in-our-audience-where/) [Nikki Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-bella/) > [We need a national universal paid family leave program that allows families to be together in the most important moments of our lives -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deb-haaland/we-need-a-national-universal-paid-family-leave-program-that-allows/) [Deb Haaland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deb-haaland/) > [Originally, when I started it, women's football wasn't as secure as it is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-williamson/originally-when-i-started-it-women-s-football-wasn-t-as-secure-as-it/) [Leah Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-williamson/) > [“And no matter what anybody says, I don't believe all this trouble started when women got the vote. As far as I'm concerned, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/and-no-matter-what-anybody-says-i-don-t-believe-all-this-trouble/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I feel like it's improving a little bit as we go on, but I've never been to Lilith Fair. It always seemed so cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maren-morris/i-feel-like-it-s-improving-a-little-bit-as-we-go-on-but-i-ve-never/) [Maren Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maren-morris/) > [By adding support for eldercare, spousal care, and children beyond the birth stage, Deloitte's family leave program provides our people with the time they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-engelbert/by-adding-support-for-eldercare-spousal-care-and-children-beyond-the/) [Cathy Engelbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-engelbert/) > [We women. as glue for the family. lead lives that are important and conflicted. What we women choose to give up for our families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hannah/we-women-as-glue-for-the-family-lead-lives-that-are-important-and/) [Kristin Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hannah/) > [To the best of my knowledge, no war was ever started by women. But it is women and children who have always suffered most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aung-san-suu-kyi/to-the-best-of-my-knowledge-no-war-was-ever-started-by-women-but-it/) [Aung San Suu Kyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aung-san-suu-kyi/) > [Once again, we are thrilled to be hosting this amazing gathering for LGBT families from across the country. Our families are an important part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-chrisler/once-again-we-are-thrilled-to-be-hosting-this-amazing-gathering-for/) Jennifer Chrisler > [Fans always come up to me and tell me that we started the women's revolution. I'm so happy when people come up to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenille-dashwood/fans-always-come-up-to-me-and-tell-me-that-we-started-the-women-s/) [Tenille Dashwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenille-dashwood/) > [“Families are so important here," I said. She looked surprised. "They are not everywhere?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/families-are-so-important-here-i-said-she-looked-surprised-they-are/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) ## More by Ruth Porat > [Incrementalism in technology leads to irrelevance; what you need is revolutionary change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/incrementalism-in-technology-leads-to-irrelevance-what-you-need-is/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [I'm delighted to be returning to my California roots and joining Google.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-m-delighted-to-be-returning-to-my-california-roots-and-joining/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [The cloud is one of the most extraordinary opportunities of our lifetime. If we're not investing now, we'll rue the day we didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/the-cloud-is-one-of-the-most-extraordinary-opportunities-of-our/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [One of the biggest problems women have is they work really hard and put their heads down and assume hard work gets noticed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/one-of-the-biggest-problems-women-have-is-they-work-really-hard-and/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [I remember, the first time it struck me is I was an econ major at Stanford as an undergrad, and it struck me how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-remember-the-first-time-it-struck-me-is-i-was-an-econ-major-at/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Liquidity is oxygen for a financial system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/liquidity-is-oxygen-for-a-financial-system/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Unless you stay focused on innovation, you can be disintermediated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/unless-you-stay-focused-on-innovation-you-can-be-disintermediated/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [The most valuable thing you can have as a leader is clear data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-have-as-a-leader-is-clear-data/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [I view investors as our partners and stakeholders in the company. They are trying to build financial models. What I try to focus on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-view-investors-as-our-partners-and-stakeholders-in-the-company-they/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Solving problems for users at scale ultimately results in monetization opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/solving-problems-for-users-at-scale-ultimately-results-in/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Businesses perform better when you have diversity of view in your senior leadership positions. This is not just the right thing to do socially;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/businesses-perform-better-when-you-have-diversity-of-view-in-your/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [The most important thing is culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/the-most-important-thing-is-culture/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Recognize that killing a weak idea early is valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/recognize-that-killing-a-weak-idea-early-is-valuable/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [Innovation happens everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/innovation-happens-everywhere/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [I hate the term 'work-life balance.' I think it's a setup, and it's trap for all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-hate-the-term-work-life-balance-i-think-it-s-a-setup-and-it-s-trap/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) [Explore all 37 Ruth Porat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) ## More Director quotes > [You have to have a great director to make a great movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thelma-schoonmaker/you-have-to-have-a-great-director-to-make-a-great-movie/) [Thelma Schoonmaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thelma-schoonmaker/) > [Professionally speaking, the proudest moment was when I booked the 'Human Stain.' I knew it had Nicole Kidman, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Gary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/professionally-speaking-the-proudest-moment-was-when-i-booked-the/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [A successful director is someone who has the combination of skills that you can learn, but there's also an intuitive sensibility that they bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-heinrichs/a-successful-director-is-someone-who-has-the-combination-of-skills/) [Rick Heinrichs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-heinrichs/) > [When I was playing piano, it was like, 'I'm going to write a song using all the white keys.' My music director, who knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tesh/when-i-was-playing-piano-it-was-like-i-m-going-to-write-a-song-using/) [John Tesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tesh/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) > [During script narrations, if I feel the screenplay mood jumping abruptly, I tell the director, and they work on it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-sethupathi/during-script-narrations-if-i-feel-the-screenplay-mood-jumping/) [Vijay Sethupathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-sethupathi/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [I've always wanted to be a director; it's just how my mind has always worked. If I hear music, I see music videos and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-wells/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-director-it-s-just-how-my-mind-has-always/) [Noel Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-wells/) > [There was always a part of me that wanted to be an old-time director. But I couldn't do that. I'm not a pro.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-scorsese/there-was-always-a-part-of-me-that-wanted-to-be-an-old-time-director/) [Martin Scorsese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-scorsese/) > [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [Because I thought there's no point trying to second guess what people are looking for, because if I'm the right director for it, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-herron/because-i-thought-there-s-no-point-trying-to-second-guess-what-people/) [Kate Herron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-herron/) > [Sometimes you can't even find the director on a movie set. Sometimes you don't want to find the director on a movie set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-tucci/sometimes-you-can-t-even-find-the-director-on-a-movie-set-sometimes/) [Stanley Tucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-tucci/) > [First of all the criteria that I have that goes into any career decision is whether or not I have the life experience, emotional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-cage/first-of-all-the-criteria-that-i-have-that-goes-into-any-career/) [Nicolas Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-cage/) > [As a director, people are trusting you with their lives, with their stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/as-a-director-people-are-trusting-you-with-their-lives-with-their/) [Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-chai-vasarhelyi/) > [I loved working with Stephen Frears. He's a really fantastic director. He knows what he wants and how to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/i-loved-working-with-stephen-frears-he-s-a-really-fantastic-director/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) [Browse all 2,786 Director quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/director/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I started, there were very few women at the managing director level and very few who had families, which is something that was important to me. 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