Sad fact: The number of women in leadership positions has dropped

“Research has shown that firms with more women in senior positions are more profitable, more socially responsible, and provide safer, higher-quality customer experiences — among many other benefits.” (Post, Lokshin, & Boone, Harvard Business Review, 2021). However, according to a new report from S&P Global Market Intelligence, for the first time in nearly two decades, the percentage of women in the C-suite at publicly traded US companies has dropped. More specifically, in 2023, women held just 11.8% of the roughly 15,000 C-suite roles assessed, down from 12.2% the year before. It’s the first time women have lost C-suite seats since 2005, the year S&P started measuring the data.

My contribution: How I can support you as a woman leader

As a certified and seasoned executive coach, change manager, and organizational development expert, I will work with you to determine the areas we need to focus on to help you (re)define your unique leadership brand, develop your personal leadership strategic plan, and enable you to lead with authenticity, confidence, and impact. Some of the outcomes past clients have achieved through my coaching include:

• Building their confidence, which increased their ability to fully participate in strategic conversations.
• A strong executive presence, which helped them to establish trust, build rapport and motivate others to commit to fulfilling their vision.
• Increased cultural self-awareness and cultural intelligence, which enabled them to communicate and work more effectively with people from different cultures.
• Improved leadership performance after being promoted to positions of leadership for their technical excellence with little experience in being a leader.
• Improved ability to navigate the change needed to achieve organizational/and or personal goals.

Whatever your challenge, I want to reassure you. You don’t have to walk alone. I will be your strategic partner, coach, and advisor. Using tailored strategies and programs, I specialize in empowering women leaders like you to overcome challenges, build confidence, excel in their careers, and live fulfilling lives.

Our response: What can we do about it?

The Center for Creative Leadership (2022) indicated that coaching was one of 3 strategies to propel more women into the C-Suite. A 2024 Forbes article added that “coaching enables retention and prioritizes the well-being of women in C-suite roles. Coaching should be part of every executive's role and compensation package. Not only is it a valuable benefit to the new executive, it is also a critical element to their success. By sponsoring an executive coach, an organization demonstrates its investment and commitment to that success.”