Gender Balance – A Tricky Conversation
Talking about gender balance in corporate leadership can sometimes be an uncomfortable conversation. Companies may feel put on the defensive about justifying who makes up their leadership. And women may be concerned that their gender is being highlighted over what should really matter – their qualifications and their performance on the job.
The Bottom Line
Yet, there is increasing evidence that gender balance in senior management is beneficial for a company’s bottom line. And, luckily for both sides, in business the bottom line always rules.
Hiring qualified women executives should not be viewed as an ethical or moral issue – it is just good business sense.
Gender Balance in Corporations
But companies have a long way to go. Though women occupy half of the jobs in the professional sector, they remain immensely underrepresented in the upper echelons of corporate management. Only 14% of executive officers of Fortune 500 companies are women. Even worse, only 3.6% of those companies have a woman as their CEO.
WE – The Largest Database of Women Executives
As a recruitment specialist with over 25 years of experience, I know a lot about these problems. In 1988, I founded ECK Consulting, a retained executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of senior executives in the Financial Services industry – an industry that is predominately male. Over the last few years, I have been inspired by the initiatives spearheaded by many of my clients to create a greater gender balance in their senior management.
In order to provide my clients with access to the best women candidates, ECK Consulting is proud to announce the launch of WE – Women Executives, a new division focused on building the largest global database of women executives in Financial Services. As a Woman-Owned Business, ECK Consulting has always been dedicated to increasing women’s representation in senior management and in the boardroom. Our new division WE will enhance our company’s mission of presenting our clients with a diverse slate of world-class candidates.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Over my many years in the executive search business, I have met incredible women who are leaders in the industry. I believe these women have a lot to share with the rest of us about how to make it in this ever-demanding business. The WE blog will strive to get the conversation going between these C-Level Women and emerging women executives, who will be the leaders of tomorrow.
The Interview
Every month, this blog will feature an interview with a new C-Suite Woman Executive sharing her own struggles, triumphs, and, most importantly, her advice on how to build a successful career in the world of Financial Services. I want this blog to provide a place to have an honest and helpful conversation about the challenges and benefits of being a woman in this industry. Welcome to WE. Welcome to the conversation!
