Being a woman in the men`s world!

Do you think about your gender when you are getting promoted and taking a new position? Most of us think rather about competences, experience, attitude, knowledge or if we are ready to go for it etc. But does anyone think about the gender unless it’s the kind of work as a miner does, in which physical strength could make a difference. I have never thought that being a woman matters when I considered the CEO position.

Now I think it was a mistake … . I didn`t realize how “unique” ? I am going to be in the nearest future …. .

I have had some general overview that there are not too many women in boards all over the world and also in my country. Bear in mind that the highest level of managerial positions are mostly occupied by gentlemen. I knew there has been an international discussion and named and agreed tendency to reverse it. Even though it happens, it is going more than slowly.
And you know what? Now, I understand WHY this is such a hot topic across the globe.

Have a look on these statistics …. .

WORLDWIDE: Women are still largely under-represented on corporate boards globally, and progress to change this trend continues to be slow. Deloitte’s 6th edition of the “Women in the Boardroom” report outlines efforts and progress made in over 60 countries to increase the number of women occupying board seats.
Deloitte’s “Women in the Boardroom” report shares the latest statistics on global boardroom diversity, exploring the efforts of 66 countries to increase gender diversity in their boardrooms and features insights on the political, social and legislative trends behind the numbers. Women hold 16.9% of board seats worldwide, a 1.9% increase from the previous  report edition (2017). Women hold only 5.3 % of board chair positions and 4.4% of CEO roles globally. *

Considering the newest facts & figures the situation looks different in different countries.

USA: The percentage of women holding board seats at Russell 3000 companies has continued to increase and in the last year topped 25% for the first time, according to advocacy group 50/50 Women on Boards. As of June 2021, women hold 25.6% of board seats at the 3,000 largest publicly held companies in America, an increase from 22.6% in 2020 and 16% in 2017. The three-percentage point increase from 2020 to 2021 is the largest year-on-year increase in the past four years, the organization said, and puts corporate boards on track to be gender-balanced by the year 2029.**

EUROPE: Over the last nine years, the proportion of women on the boards of the largest listed companies across the EU has more than doubled: from 12 % in October 2010, to 28 % in April 2019. The countries that introduced legislative quotas were driving the progress, but soft measures have also worked in some countries. However, gender balance has not made significant improvements in the countries that have not taken any action. In 2010, the European Commission even suggested legislative action and two years later proposed a Directive with a target to reach 40 % women on boards. Despite the fact that no agreement was reached on the proposal of a Directive, several EU Member States took proactive measures to improve gender-balance in economic decision-making: France, Sweden, Italy, Finland, Belgium and Germany. ***

MY COUNTRY: The percentage of women active on the management and supervisory boards of companies operating in Poland rose by 0.6 percent to 15.8 percent in 2019,. The 6th edition of the report ‘Women in the Boardroom: A Global Perspective’ shows that the growth tendencies of women’s participation in the boardroom are mainly seen in the largest stock-listed companies. Women chair around 9% of supervisory boards in Poland. The report also said that women constitute 23% of supervisory board members at the largest joint-stock companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. This is a 4% increase compared to the results of the survey run two years ago. 29% of women occupy the position of chairman of the board, down by 1 percentage point, the report reads. The authors of the report added that in 2013, the Polish Ministry of State Assets recommended that companies partially belonging to the State Treasury take gender diversity into account when selecting members of supervisory boards. *

These are the facts. I wish there was no more discussion about gender equally in 21st century. I wish it became natural and obvious that we promote people based on their attitudes, know-how and leadership skills.

Studies have repeatedly shown that increasing diversity is not only the right thing to do for an organization’s culture, it also leads to better business outcomes. Increased diversity leads to smarter decision-making, contributes to an organization’s bottom line and powers innovation, among other benefits.

Reading these numbers from surveys and studies, it looks like there is still an unbelievable space for growth for women worldwide. We, as a society, as a business sector have huge room for improvement! However, in my personal opinion, in 21st century, it should definitely not be an issue. What to say … . Keep calm & keep going!
Being there, in the men’s world is neither common nor easy-peasy. Hey girls, shall we break the glass ceiling for good?

 July, 2022

 * Deloitte, Woman in the boardroom, 6th edition, 10 2019
** 50/50 Women on Boards study, 10 2021
*** European Institute of Gender Equality, Gender Statistics Database, June 2019.

I am not a woman trying to impress.

I am a woman trying to progress.

The focus is different.