Christie Hefner

When Christie Hefner joined Playboy in 1975, the company was widely viewed as the last bastion of unrepentant male chauvinism. By 2009, when Hefner stepped down after 20 years as chairman and CEO, Playboy had a well-earned reputation as a female-friendly workplace, and the rabbit head logo was worn proudly by millions of women around the world. Throughout her career at Playboy, Hefner was known as an outspoken supporter and proponent of women in business and was particularly focused on helping other women gain access to the "C" suite. Today, Hefner looks back on the challenges (and occasional advantages) of being a woman in the corporate world. From her early years as a top executive?when a male visitor to company headquarters mistook her for an administrative assistant?to her innovative leadership of Playboy in the Digital Age, Hefner brings a unique, real-world perspective to the issues facing businesswomen in the 21st Century. She speaks candidly about the major obstacles facing women in business today and offers thoughtful, practical suggestions on the best ways for corporate executives to offer talented women employees the opportunities they deserve.