If you are a woman, becoming CIO can be a significant challenge.  

However, once you are able to achieve this goal, that is when the real  work starts. As CIO, you need to take the time to network in order to both maintain your position and be effective. However, networking is much harder for women to do than men. There are very few women who achieve positions of power in companies that it can be difficult for women to find people who will sponsor them in order to make introductions and referrals.  

Because of all of this it can be easy for women CIOs to start to believe that there is something wrong with the process of networking.