Member’s survey – women on boards and in leadership roles

The results are quite telling, and while our members believed progress is being made, it is slow.

• A small majority of respondents, 55%, think legislation should be introduced to ensure greater diversity at the board level in firms. 
• 85% of respondents believe women’s representation in executive leadership and board positions is increasing yet 65% of them say it’s not happening fast enough. 
• 85% of respondents think board positions are not as easily accessible to women, while 90% of respondents feel male business leaders don’t understand the barriers that women face at work. 
• When it comes to holding senior leaders accountable for progress on diversity goals and emphatic 95% of respondents say CEOs and managers should be held accountable and have diversity metrics built into their performance reviews. 
• And on the topic of the long-term implications of flexible working on the representation of women in senior leadership roles, just 50% said it would have a positive impact while 25% said the impact would be negative.

1. Should legislation be introduced to ensure greater diversity at the board level in firms?

• 55% said yes
• 20% said it already existed in their country
• 25% said they were unsure

2. Do you feel women’s representation in executive leadership and board positions is increasing?

• 85% said yes
• 10% said no
• 5% were unsure

3. If you think it is – at what rate is it increasing?

• 65% said not fast enough
• 30% said they were unsure
• 5% said yes it was increasing

4. In your experience, at work do you think women are promoted to board or executive roles at equal rates to men?

• 85% said no
• 10% were unsure
• 5% said yes

5. In your experience, do you think board positions are as equally accessible to women as they are to men?

• 85% said no
• 15% said yes

6. In your experience, do you think organisations are doing enough to retain women in the workplace?

• 60% said no
• 30% said they were unsure
• 10% said yes

7. Do you feel male business leaders understand the barriers that women face at work?

• 90% said no
• 10% said yes

8. In your experience, do you feel companies need to create a culture that fully leverages the benefits of diversity—one in which women, and all employees, feel comfortable bringing their unique ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table?

• 95% said yes
• 5% said no

9. According to McKinsey & Company, only two-thirds of companies hold senior leaders accountable for progress on diversity goals. Should CEOs and managers be held accountable and have diversity metrics built into their performance reviews?

• 95% said yes
• 5% said no

10. Do you feel business leaders do enough and clearly communicate what is expected of employees and what it means to have an inclusive culture?

• 95% said no
• 5% said yes

11. What do you think the long-term implications of flexible working will be for the representation of women in senior leadership roles?

• 50% said positive
• 25% said negative
• 15% said no impact
• 10% were insure

12. In your experience, what impact has female representation brought to the boardroom: [Improved strategy development]

• 65% said yes
• 35% said they were unsure

13. In your experience, what impact has female representation brought to the boardroom: [Improved decision making]

• 70% said yes
• 30% said no