Problem: CEOs on Maternity Leave
When Marissa Mayer was named chief executive officer (CEO) of Yahoo in July 2012, she was six months pregnant, a fact well noted in media reports of Yahoo's announcement. In 2014, after several months in her new position as WEX CEO, Melissa Smith announced in a companywide memo the impending birth of her first child. During her leave, the former WEX CEO and current chairman, Michael Dubyack, was prepared to help with the executive leadership functions. However, Ms. Smith indicated that, like Ms. Mayer, she planned a brief maternity leave during which she would stay involved with work.
Question
How might these high-profile maternity leaves affect perceptions of maternity leave and working women? Explain.