Introduction

A Decade of Progress in Corporate America, But the Work Must Continue

After 10 years, the way forward for corporate America is clear: remain committed and continue driving change. Reflecting on the past decade, companies have made meaningful strides—there are more women in leadership roles, improved employee policies, and a growing focus on fostering inclusion. However, change is complex, and we’re still in the midst of the necessary shifts to create a truly equitable workplace. A closer look reveals that while progress has been made, it is fragile and less widespread than it may seem, signaling the need for further action.

Although there are positive developments, one concerning trend stands out: companies are beginning to retreat from their commitment to diversity. At a time when organizations should be intensifying their efforts, early signs indicate some are stepping back.

As we look to the future, the message to companies is simple: keep pushing forward. Over the last decade, women have remained ambitious and dedicated to their careers—now it’s time for companies to match that drive. Corporate America can do better, and women deserve better.

PART 1: A 10-year look at women’s representation

Significant Progress Has Been Made, But It’s Surprisingly Fragile

In the past decade, women have achieved important gains at every level of the corporate ladder, especially in senior leadership roles. This progress is meaningful—research shows that companies with more women in leadership experience increased innovation, healthier cultures, and stronger performance. Women in these positions not only bring valuable skills and perspectives but also inspire future generations of women to make their own impact.

However, the corporate pipeline isn’t as robust as the numbers might suggest. Too few women, particularly women of color, are advancing into management roles. Much of the progress in senior leadership has been driven by reductions in certain types of roles, and at the highest levels—the C-suite—the factors that fueled these gains will be difficult to sustain moving forward.

At the current rate, achieving gender parity for all women in corporate America could take nearly 50 years, and that’s assuming companies can turn their precarious momentum into more lasting change.

Women’s Representation Has Grown Over the Last Decade

Women’s representation has improved at all levels over the past 10 years. The most notable shift is in the C-suite, where women now hold 29% of positions, compared to just 17% in 2015. However, progress has been slower at the entry and management levels.

Women of Color Remain Severely Underrepresented

Despite making larger relative gains in recent years, women of color still face significant underrepresentation. They hold only 7% of C-suite roles, while white women occupy 22%. There’s still a long way to go before true parity is achieved.

A Closer Look at the 2024 Corporate Pipeline

As in previous years, women remain underrepresented across all levels of the corporate pipeline, regardless of race or ethnicity. In simple terms, men consistently outnumber women.

Women Continue to Face Challenges Early in the Pipeline

Women are less likely than men to be hired into entry-level positions, leading to underrepresentation right from the start. The gap widens at the first key promotion to manager, where women are significantly less likely to advance. This situation has seen little improvement—back in 2018, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 79 women were promoted. In 2024, the figure has barely shifted, with just 81 women promoted for every 100 men. This “broken rung” leaves men outnumbering women at the manager level, making it difficult for companies to achieve lasting progress at higher leadership levels.

Continue reading the report and download it to discover key insights on women in the workplace.

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• Introduction
• PART 1: A 10-year look at women’s representation
• PART 2: A 10-year look at company practices
• PART 3: A 10-year look at women’s experiences
• PART 4: A data-driven approach to solutions

Number of Pages:

• 63 pages

Pricing: 

• Free