How to build a pipeline of women leaders

When I speak at conferences or in organizations, I love to highlight some fascinating statistics that impact women in the workplace today. Did you know that men and women enter into the workforce as the same rate, however for every 100 men promoted from entry level to manager, 87 women were promoted. Just 28% of women make it to the C-suite.

In McKinsey and Lean In's 2023 Women in the Workplace report, they address key myths related to women's advancement in the workplace. One of these myths:

• Myth: The biggest barrier to women's advancement is the 'glass ceiling'

• Reality: The 'broken rung' is the greatest obstacle women face on the path to senior leadership

The research says that as a result of this “broken rung,” women fall behind and can't catch up because of the gender disparity in early promotions. Men end up holding 60 percent of manager-level positions in a typical company, while women occupy 40 percent. 

In short: The pipeline is broken. There are systemic issues that need to be corrected to foster women's ability to advance including:

• Reducing unpaid work women perform in and out of the office

• Improving access to flexibility and hybrid work

• Mitigating likability biases and halting microaggressions

This is why I have dedicated my career to helping women advance to the rooms where decisions are made through coaching, speaking and writing my book, Closing The Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential & Your Paycheck. 

For International Women's Day and Women's History Month, now is a great time to commit to fixing the broken rung and building a strong pipeline of women leaders in your organization. Check out my speaking and coaching programs for how I can help you build your pipeline!