Woman Executive On The Rise: Karen Licitra.

More women are breaking the glass ceiling in the corporate world. For some reason the senior posts have always been the reserve of male executives. Nowadays more and more women, though still not in equal numbers as men, are occupying top positions in large companies.

One of these women is Karen Licitra. She was born in Bridgewater, New Jersey and took up undergraduate studies at Rider College earning a B.S. degree in marketing. Licitra started her career at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) as a sales representative in 1984 with Ethicon, Inc.

Owing to her performance she gained promotions in sales and marketing. In 1991, she joined Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. as director of marketing. Then Licitra earned a promotion as vice president for product management.

J&J acquired the Biopsys Medical business in 1997. Licitra was subsequently named vice president for breast care management. Under her guidance this business was successfully integrated with J&J.  In September 2000, Licitra was named vice president and general manager, Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. and became president months later on December 2000.

On July 2002 she was promoted as a group company chairman for J&J and Worldwide Franchise Chairman for Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. including the Advanced Sterilization Products business and J&J Medical, Canada.

Whether male or female her corporate rise is a great achievement. It just so happens that she is a woman who is a source of inspiration for other career women.