I have worked and taught in organizations for nearly half a century, and for at least half that time, I’ve led sessions on Lean and it its predecessors.

Over those years, I’ve observed, considered and practiced what it takes to successfully lead a Lean transformation, and I’ve often asked myself why the change seems so difficult. The answer I’ve come up with is: context.

While women are making great strides in many industries, there is still a sizeable gap between the number of men and women in oil and gas, mining, utilities and pulp and paper. In 2009, the gap actually widened, with many women leaving top level positions in those industries as the economy slowed. Currently less than 10% of executive and board member positions in oil and gas companies are held by women.

As the economy slowly rebounds, we spoke with some industry experts to survey the current state of affairs and what opportunities are on the horizon for women in the valve and affiliated industries.

Recruiting and retaining qualified personnel in this post-recession environment is a challenge in all segments of the economy. This is especially true of finance talent, where issues including retiring baby boomers, regulatory pressures and complex operations are impacting the availability of key finance talent. But a recent presentation by Ken Kunkleman of Deloitte Consulting at the VMA 2012 Finance Leaders Seminar offered excellent strategies to fill this growing need.

This year’s Emerson Global Users Exchange was held Oct. 24-28 in Nashville, TN. Attendance, which had seen drop-offs in previous years due to the sluggish economy, came surging back this year, with record-setting attendance of more than 2,800.

The event theme, “Exchanging Ideas. Creating Solutions,” was supported by more than 350 technical presentations, including workshops, short courses, technology forums, product roundups, Emerson educational courses, meet-the-experts sessions and technical exhibits.