This report by PricewaterhouseCoopers is based on the results of a survey of 3,627 professional women from around the world which was conducted in 2018. It gives a clear indication of three key essential elements that business leaders must focus on to advance gender equality and help women’s career advancement as they lead their enterprises into the 21st century. The three elements are: transparency and trust; strategic support; balancing work, life, and family care.
The authors of the report believe that women are determined to succeed professionally while remaining true to their priorities. According to the results of the survey, nearly half of women think that diversity is a career barrier; they fear the effect a family may have on their careers. At the same time, the survey shows that many professional women are deeply frustrated with their conditions of employment, and skeptical of talk of change. These attitudes stem from long experience — companies have been talking about gender balance for decades — and from pessimistic predictions of how long it will take women to reach equality.
58% of women identify greater transparency as the critical step employers need to take to improve career development opportunities. Transparency here is defined as a way of conducting business in which employers offer their staff — both men, and women — a clear understanding of the expectations on both sides.
The authors also state that women won’t succeed without formal and informal support networks. To support and reinforce a woman’s self-belief and self-advocacy there needs to be a blend of workplace and personal relationships and support. In the workplace, the critical issue is finding the right mix of push and pull to help women simultaneously realize their personal and professional ambitions. Providing this level of support might seem complex, but the authors are convinced that it can be done.
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Some of the other findings of the report are as follows:
- 82% of women feel confident in their ability to fulfil career aspirations;
- 60% of women say their managers understand and support their career aspirations;
- 48% of new mothers returning to work feel overlooked for promotions and special projects.
Demographic shifts have had a significant impact on the makeup of the global workforce in recent decades, and employers need to catch up. There has been a tidal shift in the number of CEOs now focused on gender diversity and female advancement around the globe. But diversity and talent strategies still remain largely unfit for the purpose.
The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented non-financial development institution and a major organizer of nationwide and international conventions; exhibitions; and business, public, youth, sporting, and cultural events. It was established in pursuance of a decision by the President of the Russian Federation.
The Foundation was established in 2007 with the aim of facilitating the development of Russia’s economic potential, promoting its national interests, and strengthening the country’s image. One of the roles of the Foundation is to comprehensively evaluate, analyse, and cover issues on the Russian and global economic agendas. It also offers administrative services, provides promotional support for business projects and attracting investment, helps foster social entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives.
Each year, the Foundation’s events draw participants from 208 countries and territories, with more than 15,000 media representatives working on-site at Roscongress’ various venues. The Foundation benefits from analytical and professional expertise provided by 5,000 people working in Russia and abroad.
The Foundation works alongside various UN departments and other international organizations, and is building multi-format cooperation with 180 economic partners, including industrialists’ and entrepreneurs’ unions, financial, trade, and business associations from 81 countries worldwide, and 186 Russian public organizations, federal and legislative agencies, and federal subjects.
The Roscongress Foundation has Telegram channels in Russian t.me/Roscongress, English – t.me/RoscongressDirect, Spanish – t.me/RoscongressEsp and Arabic t.me/RosCongressArabic. Official website and Information and Analytical System of the Roscongress Foundation:roscongress.org.