名校励志英语演讲 185:一切皆有可能(7)

 　　In a way, my own experiences reflect those of many women in the business arena¹ who struggle to retain the best of who they are while carving² out a successful management career. During my visit here, I have met and talked with so many women, and I am truly heartened that the doors of opportunity are beginning to open for women in every field. But I also know that real change is a slow process, so I am hopeful that my own experiences as a woman and as a leader will provide a valuable perspective.

　　在某种意义上，我自己的经历映射了商界中的许多女性，她们也在为保持最佳的自我和追求成功的管理生涯而奋斗。在我来访期间，我遇见了很多女性，同她们交谈，令我感到欣慰的是，在所有领域，机会的大门已经为女性敞开。但我也知道真正的改变需要一个漫长的过程，因此，我希望我自己作为女性领导者的经历能够提供一个有价值的视角。

　　As the company for women, Avon's commitment to providing developmental opportunities for women is second to none. As you might expect, Avon has a solid representation of women in senior management. In fact, this was one of the reasons I joined the company a decade ago, working my way up the ranks through areas of increasing responsibility.

　　作为一家“比女人更了解女人”的企业，雅芳的首要承诺就是为女性提供发展的机会。你们可能知道雅芳的高级管理层很多都是女性。实际上，这也是我十年前加入这家公司的原因之一，然后不断努力工作，得到升迁，承担更多的责任。

　　But interestingly, it has only been in recent years that "the company for women" has also emerged as the company for women in senior leadership positions. Until the last decade, women were not well represented in the executive suite³. With few exceptions, middle management was about as far as they could go. Here was a company with virtually 100% women customers and sales representatives, yet capable women simply could not get to the top.

　　但是有意思的是，只有在近几年这家“比女人更了解女人”是公司才让女性出现在高层管理者的职位上。十年前，执行层队伍中几乎没有女性，而中层管理人员中也只有零星几个。这是一个客户和销售代表几乎100%是女性的公司，但有能力的女性偏偏无法上升到高层职位。

1 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

2 carving   

n.雕刻品，雕花

参考例句：

• All the furniture in the room had much carving.房间里所有的家具上都有许多雕刻。
• He acquired the craft of wood carving in his native town.他在老家学会了木雕手艺。

3 suite   

n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员

参考例句：

• She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
• That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。