Foreword

Despite the global average showing little change, India strides ahead with some encouraging figures. To push for better parity, businesses must be intentional and decisive with their actions. They should adopt a hybrid or flexible approach, create a supportive and understanding culture, focus on employee wellbeing and mentoring programmes which support women and look out for negative impacts of working from home, and address them.

Although there has been some advancement in the representation of women in senior leadership roles, this year's findings indicate that the progress is alarmingly sluggish. Globally, women presently hold 32.4% of senior management positions in mid-sized firms, a mere 0.5% increase from 2022, and only a 13% increase since our initial study in 2004. Based on this pace, it is predicted that only 34% of senior leadership positions will be held by women by 2025.

 

Pallavi Bakhru

Pallavi Bakhru
Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat

Women in business - Global findings

According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap report, it will take another 132 years to close the global gender gap.[i] Our research suggests that mid-market businesses must push for parity, and quickly. Intentional action from businesses is needed to accelerate progress.

Our research identifies a number of factors which could support this acceleration. Firstly, more women now hold the most senior positions than ever before – 28% of mid-market businesses now have a female chief executive officer (CEO) or managing director (MD), up from 15% in 2019. This trend is likely to lead to new diversity strategies, focused on increasing diversity at a senior management level and taking more businesses towards gender parity.  

Secondly, external pressures around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors demand the creation of new strategies, including a determined push towards more women in senior leadership. The establishment of global ESG standards and regulation is putting pressure on firms to form diverse leadership teams. Struggle to demonstrate diversity and a company may struggle to raise capital.[ii]

Perhaps the most significant boost to achieving gender parity could come from a continued commitment from businesses to provide flexible working. This year’s IBR research shows that businesses which offer hybrid, flexible or home working outperform when it comes to women in senior management.

The more flexible the workplace, the more we see women getting into senior leadership. While some C-suite voices at this year’s WEF event in Davos called for the need to return to the office, [iii] caution is needed. Office-based businesses have the lowest percentage of women in senior management. 

Flexible working is not without its challenges. Organisations must ensure they have a culture which supports and facilitates flexible working. The risk is businesses slide back into pre-pandemic habits – an intentional commitment to flexible working could help avoid this.

Why the mid-market should take the lead

Businesses in the mid-market are well positioned to push for parity. Many have embraced flexible, hybrid or home-working and have embedded leadership programmes, often providing mentoring and coaching as part of leadership succession planning. To accelerate progress, the mid-market sector needs more of these programmes, increased transparency on leadership pathways and a business culture which continues to be fully supportive of greater diversity in senior leadership.   

At Grant Thornton, we firmly believe that increasing diversity, at a senior level and beyond, is the responsible thing to do and the right thing to do commercially, being a proven driver of performance. 

To take the next step, and push for parity we must learn from our experiences, avoid the pitfalls which could derail progress and ensure there is long term commitment to the new ways of working. Our 2023 Women in Business report provides key insights into why and how mid-market businesses can do this.

How can the mid-market push for parity?

To push for parity, businesses must be intentional and decisive with their actions in order to accelerate progress.

Grant Thornton has five recommendations arising from the IBR research

Grant Thornton
WOMEN IN BUSINESS 2023

Download the full report

In accordance with our privacy policy and in order to deliver the most suitable information to you we may share your information with relevant member firms in the Grant Thornton network.

_____________________________________________________________

i. www.weforum.org - It will take another 132 years to close the global gender gap, 2022
ii. msci.com - ESG and climate risks and opportunities
iii. www.thetimes.co.uk - Working from home is under threat — from employers