During my years in publishing, I was bombarded by press releases of the first woman chosen to be this and the first woman to be nominated for that and the first woman to be hired for whatever.... and every time I received one I published it with vigor and enthusiasm as firsts for women are important for all women!

Yesterday, Janet Yellen, 67, was confirmed as the Chair for the Federal Reserve, and yes, she is the first woman to hold that position. All women in business must celebrate!

The fact is we, men and women, don't realize the impact firsts have on our psyche. For women, and particularly younger women, seeing someone who looks similar (female) attain a position or rank in business that we believed was out of reach may be just the motivation needed for us to broaden our goals. For men, seeing a woman reach the top of her profession is proof that competition is no longer drawn along gender lines. And, even more important, men learn that women can.

This first also scores big for women because the debate on women's aptitude for math and science continues ad nauseam. For the past 20 or more years, the controversy of women's ability to perform duties requiring math and science as well as men in professions rages on and is studied as though proving it one way or the other would make a difference. The fact is, and this fact has been concluded in a variety of studies, girls are not encouraged at an early age to pursue careers in math and science as boys are and, therefore, even when they do show aptitude they have gotten a later start.

Again, this is exactly why the news of Janet Yellen's confirmation as the first female Chair of the Federal Reserve Board must be celebrated. It means women can do math and do it very well.

Role models matter. Perception matters. Believing girls can succeed in financial services is as important, no more important, as counting the numbers of females in the profession. The more we believe women can do whatever they choose to do and reach for the top of their profession if they want the sooner we will have more women at the top.

Of course, it isn't as easy as I make it sound. But, I know from my research and my experience that every time a first for women is reported other firsts are in the pipeline. We need a fuller pipeline of women reaching the top to attain true gender equality.

So, congratulations Janet Yellen and congratulations to all women in business who strive every day to be the best that they can be and not being afraid to be the first at whatever they do.

Every time one woman wins all women win. Now we need to get a woman in the White House. I believe, more than anything, that this is a first that will truly change gender equality in the U.S.