Governments crack glass ceiling better than private sector
08 Mar 2010
Hyderabad: Governments have been more successful at advancing women than the private sector, according to the new Deloitte report, Paths to power: Advancing women in government, launched in advance of International Women's Day on March 8.
Yhe report said globally, women are increasingly being elected and appointed to positions of power within the public sector - such as heads of state, ministers and cabinet members, and legislators--more so than in the private sector.
Research shows that almost 10 per cent of the members of the United Nations have women heads of state, compared to the 3 per cent of the top 1000 multinational companies that have a woman president or CEO.
Furthermore, women comprise nearly 20 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide, compared with 13.5 per cent of women executive officers of the top 500 US companies.
Making a reference to the changing mindsets in corporate India, Dhananjay Bansod, chief people leader, Deloitte in India, said, ''Deloitte recognises the contributions women make to the success of our local practices and the entire global organisation. Women have come a long way in making their mark in every field. However, there are still very few women in senior positions in India. We believe that both government and private sector organisations should look at building diversity and equality amongst workforce. The government initiatives like Women's bill are sure to facilitate a greater male to female ratio at workplace in the coming years.''
''Talent and knowledge are the most important resources a nation can possess,'' said Greg Pellegrino, Deloitte, global public sector industry leader, and one of the authors of the report. ''Women's progress has vital implications for the health and growth of governments, companies, and nations. Therefore, it is crucial that governments and companies work together to harness and cultivate global female talent, to help create positive change and ensure continued growth and success."
- Progress with respect to women's participation in the public sector serves as a model for the private sector