Women like myself, CEOs, can pave the way for more women to get to the top.

The game in beauty is changing so much, if your product isn't high tech or can't make a unique performance claim - plump your lips, reduce your lines, look glossy, and stay on for 24 hours - you can't go to market today. I'm not just talking about a $20 lipstick, but a $5 lipstick!

It's an unbelievable responsibility to influence decisions, shareholder value and most important to me, people's careers and livelihoods.

I can only have dinner with my girlfriends once a month instead of once a week.

Women are clearly the major consumers in far more than just female categories. It doesn't matter whether it is purchases of cars, cosmetics, or even products for men, female consumption power is the leading consumption power in the world. Any company that overlooks the woman as the decision maker is making a huge mistake.

Women like myself, CEOs, can pave the way for more women to get to the top.

Avon is a unique place to work; we've got family-friendly policies. We have more senior women in high-level management than any other company; 46 percent of our officers are women.