Too many women at the bottom still not enough at the top
Wednesday 13 November 2019The Chartered Management Institute welcomes progress that has seen FTSE 100 companies on track to reach the 33% target for women on boards ahead of the 2020 deadline; however warns that there are still too many women at the bottom of the corporate ladder, and too few at the top.
A fundamental change in approach is needed for senior leadership roles below board level; CMI research has found that 40% of male managers are still more likely to be promoted than women.
Gender balance is a business issue, not a women’s issue.
Ann Francke the CEO of CMI commenting on the Hampton Alexander report welcomed the progress that has seen more women in the boardroom of FTSE 100, FTSE 250 companies however underlined that more work is needed below board level roles:
"We are making progress and the results of Hampton Alexander are welcomed, however we still have too many women at the bottom of organisations and too few at the top.”
“Business must fix the "broken windows" of gender bias that impede women’s careers and mar their day-to-day experiences in the workplace. There are huge benefits to ensuring companies promote workplace equality – with McKinsey estimating that ‘diversity dividend’ could add £150bn to the UK economy by 2025.”
“We must act now, or risk further damage to the economy, and given the uncertainties of Brexit we need this now more than ever."
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Chartered Management Institute
- The Chartered Management Institute is the chartered professional body for management and leadership, counting more than 132,000 managers and leaders in its membership community up from 105,000 (a 26% increase).
- There are 6,856 Chartered Managers up 10% from 6,249 (2018)
- Backed by a unique Royal Charter, CMI is the only organisation able to award Chartered Manager status - the ultimate management accolade, which is proven to boost individuals’ career prospects, management capability and impact in the workplace.
- New research is to be published by CMI, Russell Reynolds Associates and 30% Club “Sponsoring women’s success” - executive leaders views on sponsoring and mentoring, to receive advanced copies of the report please contact CMI.
Joint research to be published by the end of 2019
CMI, 30% Club and Russell Reynolds Associates Research
- CMI, the 30% Club and Russell Reynolds Associates have undertaken new research on Sponsorship and Mentoring in the executive management pipeline.
- This research will be published in late 2019.
- The research will provide an overview of the extent of sponsorship and mentoring in UK businesses among managers and senior leaders.
- It critically drills down to focus on the perspective of senior decision makers in UK firms about the role sponsoring in particular should play in the workplace, alongside mentoring, to support gender diversity at an executive level.