Women CEOs: Why they remain a rare phenomenon

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

Findings

Recent decades have witnessed substantial growth in the number of female workers in the USA. At the mid-point of the twentieth century, 33.9 per cent of women participated in the labor force. Records confirm that this figure had risen to 57.7 per cent by 2012. A similar picture prevails where education is concerned. Take graduate degrees, for example. Women presently account for well over one-third of all the MBAs awarded in the USA. Back in the 1970s, this figure was just 5 per cent. On the basis of such trends, one might reasonably expect to see a considerable number of females leading business organizations. Not so.

Practical implications

The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations.

Originality/value

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Citation

(2016), "Women CEOs: Why they remain a rare phenomenon", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 24 No. 7, pp. 23-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-07-2016-0104