Over the past year, the value of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) and gender equality initiatives has been questioned. While many large corporations have pulled back from DE&I [i], the mid-market is standing firm in its commitment.
This commitment is grounded not in ideals, but in business pragmatism. Gender-diverse leadership strengthens performance and delivers a clear competitive advantage. To realise these benefits fully, businesses must make their commitment — and the value of gender-balanced leadership — visible.
With the percentage of women in senior management dropping 1.1pp to 32.9% — this moment matters. Fluctuations have occurred and bounced back before but it’s essential to protect progress and unlock the full potential of gender-balanced leadership.
Visibility changes outcomes.
Our Women in Business research shows that a visible commitment to gender-diverse leadership teams can have a positive commercial impact — potential new investors expect to see gender-balanced leadership and employees see gender equality as a reason to join or stay at an organisation.
Read on to dive into the data behind the mid-market’s commitment and the impact remaining committed has on long-term business growth.
Mid-market businesses that not only remain committed to their gender equality initiatives, but plan to implement new ones, are more likely to report growth in revenue, headcount and exports. Leaders also associate gender-balanced leadership teams with better innovation, decision-making and financial performance.
To drive change, the mid-market is embedding gender equality strategies into their business. From strategies on employee pay to increasing female representation in senior management, strategic initiatives can propel progress.
While progress isn’t always linear, the mid-market is still on track to reach gender parity by 2051 and we’ve seen an increase in women holding various C-suite roles, including Chief executive officer.
Visible female leadership and a commitment to gender equality can help propel progress towards gender parity in mid-market leadership. Read the full report to learn more about the value of visibility and the positive impact gender-balanced leadership can have. More voices. More visibility. More momentum.
This International Women’s Day, we share a message not only to inspire, but to awaken. Reflecting on the progress made toward gender equality, achievements are real, yet there is still much work to be done.
This report provides a comprehensive analysis of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in Greece and the EU-27 & UK in 2025, combining quantitative metrics with qualitative assessment of market dynamics.
Η έρευνά μας “Technology & Beyond: Future in Symbiosis” βασίζεται σε ποιοτικές, διαδικτυακές συνεντεύξεις με 10 στελέχη ελληνικών ιδιωτικών επιχειρήσεων και καταγράφει τις βασικές τάσεις που διαμορφώνουν τη σχέση των επιχειρήσεων με την τεχνολογία και την Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη (AI).
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