What drives you?

Arianna Huffington recently shared some of her life lessons in Stylist magazine. She's a Greek-American columnist who's president and editor in chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, and the 56th most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes. She truly believes money doesn't lead to happiness, and that the trade-offs for a higher pay grade aren't always worth it.

Studies have shown that women enter the white-collar workforce in even greater numbers than men - but from entry-level to middle management, and mid- to senior-level positions, men advance disproportionately. At the executive level, for every 4 men there is 1 woman. Where did all the hard-working, ambitious women go?

The answer could be the costs of success. For guys, success means status and lots of money - which helps them win trophy wives. Trophy wives can afford to stay at home and look after the kids, letting the husband continue his career and climb up the corporate ladder. The same can't be said for women: studies show that a woman who is more successful in the workplace is less likely to be considered "marriage material". Indeed, 41% of high-earning women have no partner, and 40% are childless. In the pursuit of power, women forfeit family and men gain support.

Then what drives women in business? Apparently it's less about compensation, and more about the substance and nature of the work. For most women, what motivates them to succeed is not money and power, but being able to 1) work with quality people; 2) have job security; 3) be authentic and true to themselves.They want connection and emotional satisfaction, not a pay rise and a bigger office. It's been shown that women in 60+ hour a week jobs do it for the challenge, the desire to make a difference, and to add value - rather than for reasons driven by ego and status.

Unfortunately most corporate structures don't work that way. A promotion means a better pay package and an important title, not necessarily a better team and more meaningful work. Maybe that's why women downsize their aspirations.

This ties in with Arianna Huffington's insistence that money doesn't equate happiness - at least for women. Women are just as hungry, driven, and eager to be recognized as men - but the rewards they value are entirely different.