There has been a significant number of discussions on improving the status of women’s leadership in businesses. However, how many of the suggestions raised from these forums are being executed at the board level? The growth has been slow, but it is positive. This seventh edition of the Deloitte Global Boardroom Program’s Women in the Boardroom report shows some interesting facts. It says the worldwide average of women on boards now sits at 19.7 percent, an increase of just 2.8 percent since Deloitte’s last report, published in 2019. If this change rate continued every two years, we could expect to reach a level approaching parity in 2045.
Another Industry report by global accounting firm Grant Thornton says that businesses with at least one woman in the senior management increased to 90 percent globally. In India, this stands at 98 percent. As much as 47 percent of mid-market businesses in India now have women chief executive officers, compared with 26 percent globally. So, it is a good sign that companies are now recognizing the importance of women’s representation at the top. There are several studies have also confirmed that organizations with high scores in gender equity gain not only a performance bump but have happier employees.
In this issue, we celebrate the success of the women in the Indian business domain who have taken encouraging strides forward in leadership positions. We have identified “10 Most Inspiring Business Women in India – 2022,” who act as powerful agents of change and promote diversity and gender parity in leadership and decision-making. On the cover, we feature Gomathi Shanmugam, CEO and Co-Founder, AhaGuru. From facing hardships at an early age to innovating the award-winning “Lab in a Box” concept to becoming the CEO of AhaGuru, Gomathi’s journey is full of inspiration.
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