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Hindu Business Line, India
March 8 2015
India ranks third lowest in having women in leadership roles
Sangeetha Chengappa
Bengaluru, March 8:
India ranks third lowest in the proportion of business leadership
roles held by women, at 15 per cent; falling below the global average,
reveals an annual survey from Grant Thornton, conducted ahead of
International Women's Day (March 8).
Japan which sits at the bottom of the global rankings at 8 per cent
and Germany at 14 per cent, join India at the bottom of the rankings.
Globally, 22 per cent of senior roles are held by women, a slight
improvement up from 19 per cent in 2004 but, down from 24 per cent
last year, highlighting broad stagnation. And almost a third of
businesses have no women in senior leadership roles.
"Japan and India may be at very different stages of their development
but they share certain cultural features, such as strong hierarchy and
patriarchal societies, which prevent women from reaching the upper
echelons of the business world," said Pallavi Bakhru, Director, Grant
Thornton Advisory Private Ltd.
There have been pockets of improvement, however, with 26 per cent of
senior roles in the EU now occupied by women - an all-time high. This
has been driven by France (33%), Sweden (28%) and Greece (27%). At the
same time, the number in Latin America has fallen to 18 per cent, an
all-time low.
While the situation in developed economies has broadly stagnated over
the past decade, there has been a marked decrease in emerging markets,
potentially driven by rapid urbanisation according to the report
released- Women in business: the path to leadership.
"We've heard businesses talk the talk on gender equality for decades
now, but still too few are walking the walk. Aside from the moral
issue of ensuring equal opportunity for all, a more representative
blend of women and men in senior roles just makes good business sense.
If an economy is only using half its most talented people then it
immediately cuts its growth potential," said Bakhru.
5,404 business leaders were surveyed and interviews with 20 policy
makers, academics and senior decision makers from inside and outside
Grant Thornton were conducted to look at the barriers and enablers
along the path to business leadership.
The survey further reveals that India ranks second from bottom on the
number of women in leadership roles like CEO/ Managing Director.
Armenia ranks lowest in this parameter. As far as presence of women in
Board positions is concerned, India ranks fourth from bottom, while
Japan again ranks last in the list.
Bakhru says, "Society must adjust to changes in the way we live and
work; for instance, the stigmatisation of men who choose to stay at
home for family reasons must end. Governments can support this by
facilitating shared parental leave but also building the
infrastructure to allow women to thrive in the workforce. We feel
mandating a quota for women on the Board is one of such steps in this
direction."
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-ranks-third-lowest-in-having-women-in-leadership-roles/article6971760.ece
From: A. Papazian
March 8 2015
India ranks third lowest in having women in leadership roles
Sangeetha Chengappa
Bengaluru, March 8:
India ranks third lowest in the proportion of business leadership
roles held by women, at 15 per cent; falling below the global average,
reveals an annual survey from Grant Thornton, conducted ahead of
International Women's Day (March 8).
Japan which sits at the bottom of the global rankings at 8 per cent
and Germany at 14 per cent, join India at the bottom of the rankings.
Globally, 22 per cent of senior roles are held by women, a slight
improvement up from 19 per cent in 2004 but, down from 24 per cent
last year, highlighting broad stagnation. And almost a third of
businesses have no women in senior leadership roles.
"Japan and India may be at very different stages of their development
but they share certain cultural features, such as strong hierarchy and
patriarchal societies, which prevent women from reaching the upper
echelons of the business world," said Pallavi Bakhru, Director, Grant
Thornton Advisory Private Ltd.
There have been pockets of improvement, however, with 26 per cent of
senior roles in the EU now occupied by women - an all-time high. This
has been driven by France (33%), Sweden (28%) and Greece (27%). At the
same time, the number in Latin America has fallen to 18 per cent, an
all-time low.
While the situation in developed economies has broadly stagnated over
the past decade, there has been a marked decrease in emerging markets,
potentially driven by rapid urbanisation according to the report
released- Women in business: the path to leadership.
"We've heard businesses talk the talk on gender equality for decades
now, but still too few are walking the walk. Aside from the moral
issue of ensuring equal opportunity for all, a more representative
blend of women and men in senior roles just makes good business sense.
If an economy is only using half its most talented people then it
immediately cuts its growth potential," said Bakhru.
5,404 business leaders were surveyed and interviews with 20 policy
makers, academics and senior decision makers from inside and outside
Grant Thornton were conducted to look at the barriers and enablers
along the path to business leadership.
The survey further reveals that India ranks second from bottom on the
number of women in leadership roles like CEO/ Managing Director.
Armenia ranks lowest in this parameter. As far as presence of women in
Board positions is concerned, India ranks fourth from bottom, while
Japan again ranks last in the list.
Bakhru says, "Society must adjust to changes in the way we live and
work; for instance, the stigmatisation of men who choose to stay at
home for family reasons must end. Governments can support this by
facilitating shared parental leave but also building the
infrastructure to allow women to thrive in the workforce. We feel
mandating a quota for women on the Board is one of such steps in this
direction."
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/india-ranks-third-lowest-in-having-women-in-leadership-roles/article6971760.ece
From: A. Papazian