Women leaders have a big tenure problem
GETTY IMAGES

Women leaders have a big tenure problem

We all know that women in the corporate world often struggle to make it to the same dizzying heights that men do.?

Women as a whole still earn significantly less than men, and the pay gap actually increases as they climb the corporate ladder—women at the executive level make around 72 cents on the dollar compared to men. They also helm just a small minority of Fortune 500 companies—around 10.4%.?

But there’s another front to consider when it comes to women’s struggle for corporate equality. The average CEO term for a woman at a Fortune 500 company is around 4.5 years, while the average male CEO clocks in at around 7.2 years, Fortune ’s Lila MacLellan recently reported. That’s in line with other analyses that show women CEO tenures are around three years shorter than men.?

There are many different factors that could explain this shortfall. Women are often put in charge of companies that are already on the decline. They’re also less likely to hold internal positions within a company that are considered top picks for the top job, and CEOs who are promoted from within hold longer leadership terms. Activist investors are also more likely to target women-lead companies…the list goes on!?

“In my experience, there are so many devious ways of bringing senior females down,” says Amanda Rajkumar , a longtime HR professional.?

So what’s it going to take for women to catch up to men in the corner office? Possibly a total societal shift that does away with the double standard of expectations women have to endure. But in the meantime, company boards can work on developing a deep roster of talented women executives ready to take over in the future, and also consider different leadership models with the particular needs of women executives in mind.?

You can read more about the challenges facing the women who are already in power here .

Leadership Tip of the Week ??

As the labor market has heated up over the past few years, companies have made some major investments in their HR departments, and with a focus on talent in particular—the share of recruiters grew by more than 20% between 2018 and 2023, according to a new analysis from ADP . But it might be wise for executives to take a breath and take stock of where they’ve landed before they start out on another talent blitz.?

Leadership Next

After leaving PayPal , Roelof Botha went on to help Sequoia Capital nurture some of the world’s most influential tech companies, including YouTube and NVIDIA.

Sequoia has been an investor in the AI space since the 1990s. The firm was an early investor in OpenAI, the company that has accelerated the current AI wave with its groundbreaking generative AI technology, which Botha sees as a foundational shake-up for business.

In this episode of Leadership Next, Botha shares his thoughts on what sectors he believes this tech will be most impactful in; why it rivals the previous waves of internet, cloud, and mobile; and whether we will see an AI bubble. He also provides insight into the current state of the venture capital industry.

Listen to the episode and subscribe to Leadership Next wherever you listen to podcasts, or read the full transcript here.

Those are our biggest leadership stories of the week.

Thanks for reading and make sure to subscribe to Fortune's CIO Intelligence newsletter to stay plugged in on the tech, news, and trends impacting IT leaders.

-Azure Gilman , Fortune’s Deputy Leadership Editor (and the new writer of Learning to Lead)

Paola M Urteaga

Helping Burned-Out Professionals Launch Consulting Businesses or Rekindle Their Corporate Spark | Coaching & Active Business Building for Success from Day 1

8 个月

There is a common belief that women's dedication to family holds back their careers, but the issue goes beyond time management. Both male colleagues and unmarried women have expressed concerns about feeling disadvantaged without children. Attending my daughter's events was important to me, but it sometimes meant making personal sacrifices in my professional life. This included facing questions about my commitment to my job from colleagues and leaders, as well as giving up personal time off that I could have used for much-needed rest. I want to thank Fortune for sharing this insightful article. I am encouraged by the focus on how women leaders can effectively manage both personal and professional lives. It is important to rethink the culture of overwork and ensure that women are not penalized for using work-life balance programs. Women play a key role in creating a supportive business environment and empowering aspiring female entrepreneurs. Collaboration and solidarity among women are crucial for success. Thank you for highlighting these important points.

回复
Lisa M.

Regional Vice President- Revenue & Commerce | #BestLifeLadies

8 个月

This is so very real, as a newer mom who is the breadwinner I am acutely aware of how many setbacks I have already encountered, but now despite having an excellent partner who allows me to strike a balance. The mountain looming in front of me to climb in order to get a place where my family is as comfortable as any of my male peers is daunting. I am not only playing catch up for years of being underpaid and not promoted on par (despite higher performance records). I am not on a track to get the job that makes the difference needed to stay ahead. It's often a struggle to stay motivated, but I know if I don't, all the women behind me suffer more.

Ziad El-nachef

Writer/ Poet ( self employed)

8 个月

Equality between women and men are unbalance equality, we can't find equality in any family creatures on the earth. Family balance is developed by Allah laws for a healthy growing life aspects. Power women, LGBTQ, and other equality measurements , may raise the global divorce rates from (%50 to %90) percents in modern global broken family. For every family member has to work in a slavery modern model to survive to support %10 percent top elites modern productivity of global debt system of non dynamic rental slavery global ownership of colonized goal and vision. In conclusion, happy and healthy family can't be me measured by "equality", only by saving family wealth standards to grow healthy family members, with divorce rate not to exceed (% 2-5) percent with true dynamic global ownership. Life in divorce family is garbage, not equality or proud realistic status, even if women get better global standards than all men. * Do they distribute the mercy of your Lord It is We (Allah) who have apportioned among them their livelihood in the life of this world and have raised some of them above others in degrees [of rank] that they may make use of one another for service But the mercy of your Lord is better than whatever they accumulate.

回复
Professor Andy

Author "How To Promote Your Business" Also, "Amazing GRATITUDE Best 365 Days Journal of Gratitude For MEN & WOMEN," 382 pages, in English, French & Spanish. On SALE at Amazon. USA Get Yours Today at #ProfessorAndyAuthor

8 个月

Hopefully, the tenure of Women Leaders can continue to improve. ?? GLAD TO SHARE AN EXCITING BOOK REVIEW BY PAUL K.: "How to Promote Your Business & Increase Sales is a well-written and structured manual on business promotion.? ????As a healthcare professional, I find it admirable that he dedicated this to the COVID-19 medical community. This book is incredibly beneficial for anyone, especially in the competitive economy we live in today, with its guidance, ideas, and tactics.? ???It's easy to read the chapters and focus on the particular subjects that apply to you and your stuff the most. A worth reading book!"???How to Promote Your Business & Increase Sales??5/5 Stars on Goodreads #professorandyauthor

  • 该图片无替代文字
回复

要查看或添加评论,请登录

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了