Celebrating International Women’s Day

Gender equality and inclusion has jumped up the news agenda in 2025. Just this week, in a statement by Neil Holland, Ambassador at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, concerns were expressed around the threat to gender equality in the geopolitical climate. In the same communication, he made the point that progress can only be achieved by accelerating gender equality around the world.??

While it’s important to recognise ongoing challenges to gender equality, International Women’s Day offers a chance to celebrate progress. Here at Criticaleye, we are privileged to work with inspiring female Chairs, non-executives and executives across the world, leading global organisations in many different sectors and geographies.??

Additionally, statistics in the FTSE Women Leaders Review indicate positive change. Indeed, according to its findings, women now hold 1,275 (43%) of Board roles and 6,743 (35%) of leadership roles at FTSE350 companies. Similarly, the number of women Senior Independent Directors (SID) has increased to 192 in 2024, up from 162 in 2023. It means over half of FTSE350 companies (56%) now have a woman SID.??

Here at Criticaleye, we believe the right development pathways for high potential women are crucial to developing leaders and getting even more executives into the most senior roles.??

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• External insight: in today’s challenging and fast-paced environment having access to knowledge and diverse viewpoints outside your immediate field of vision is indispensable. Stepping outside of the day-to-day, whether that be through speaking to other leaders and businesses, or having time with an experienced external mentor, is critical to success?
• Create diversity at a senior level: to promote gender equality throughout the organisation, there needs to be diversity at the top. Having a more varied Board and senior leadership team creates greater diversity of thought, as well as encouraging talented individuals to stay within the organisation in the knowledge that career opportunities will not be limited by factors like gender?
• Peer-to-Peer learning: offering women the chance to interact and share ideas with peers, including both men and women, outside of their own organisation, discipline, sector or geographical location will develop and prepare them for leadership more quickly??
• Invest in talent: organisations need to make a commitment to nurturing female talent, especially as they progress through the business and start applying for more senior roles. It’s important to prepare the next generation of female leaders for the additional responsibilities of having a c-suite position, be it communicating with internal teams and the Board, to effective investor relations, before you take on a leadership role?

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Gender equality and diversity will continue to be a focus and vital to the success and performance of organisations, regardless of pressures in the external environment. Here at Criticaleye, we will continue to support both women and men stepping into the most senior roles in the knowledge that diversity at all levels of organisations is vital to accelerating progress.??

Happy International Women’s Day 2025.?

#AccelerateAction?