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 challenges past clients have overcome through my coaching and advising include:

• A lack of confidence that limited their ability to stand up for themselves and fully participate in spaces where decisions were being made.
• Lack of a clear personal brand identity made it difficult for them to design a leadership path aligned with their authentic self.
• Poor executive presence hindering their ability to connect with others, establish trust, and build rapport. Limited cultural self-awareness and cultural intelligence, which prevented them from communicating and working effectively with people from different cultures.
• Difficulty setting boundaries and sacrificing health and self-care to meet others’ expectations.
• Being promoted to positions of leadership for their technical excellence with little experience in being a leader. Fear of embracing the change needed to achieve personal and/or career 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.”