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At a time when corporations are facing ever greater competition, especially from foreign firms, American companies are learning that they must reach out for talent and ignore sex. Says Thomas Peters: "It is competition in the market-place, not women, that is changing corporations." Now that women make up nearly half the U.S. labor force and are earning more than half of all bachelor's and master's degrees, tapping that pool of skills is nothing more than good business sense. Says Charles Brown, chairman of AT&T: "Removing the barriers that prevent women from realizing their potential is of critical importance for the stability, growth and competitive position of American business." --By Janice Castro. Reported by Rosemary Byrnes/New York and Cristina Garcia/San Francisco