The Gender Imbalance in Leadership: What’s Still Holding Women Back?
Some progress has been made in getting more women into senior roles, but the numbers show we’re still far from equality. In 2025, women hold 35.3% of leadership positions across the FTSE 350, yet only 17% of Chair roles, 7% of CEO positions, and 22% of Finance Director posts are occupied by women. In wider UK business, the latest Women in Business report shows that women now account for 36.3% of senior management roles - an improvement of just 2.8 percentage points since 2024. The reality is clear: while representation is improving, the highest decision-making roles remain heavily male-dominated. ⭐ This imbalance isn’t just a question of fairness; it has a direct impact on performance and growth. ⭐ Research shows that companies with more women in leadership deliver stronger financial returns, higher levels of innovation, and better employee engagement. ⭐ Systemic barriers ranging from unconscious bias to limited access to mentorship and sponsorship are slowing progress. If businesses want to compete on a global stage, tackling these barriers and building a leadership pipeline that truly reflects society isn’t optional, it’s essential. So how can it be done? My guest on this show is Kate Chandan, Director and Founder of Ethica Recruit. She set up her recruitment agency 4 years ago, and supports MD’s and SD’s in finding the right sales and marketing talent for their teams. Kate has worked in sales and marketing for her whole career, and has witnessed the lack of female talent at leadership and panel level for too long. Following her own experiences, she is also passionate about supporting women who are returning to work after having children. I can’t wait to chat to her! We will cover… 💡 The biggest barrier holding women back from leadership 💡 Is it bias, culture, or choice driving the imbalance? 💡The real changes would close the gap at the top If you want to understand the barriers and be part of the solution, don’t miss this conversation. I look forward to having you there. A lot of people ask me what software I use to stream these shows...it's StreamYard. If you'd like to check it out and get a $10 discount use this link - https://streamyard.com/pal/d/5342276534534144
