Study finds nimble and agile leadership informs behaviour of women CEOs

A recent study of the habits of Australian women CEOs reveals the road to the top is haphazard for many female leaders.

The study released by Korn Ferry and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD),  Australian Women CEOs Speak, examines the careers of current and recent women CEOs in Australia and highlights the shared factors to success.

While the women surveyed represent some of our most elite corporations, surprisingly they ranked themselves below average when it came to confidence with one third of the women CEOs suggesting they had experienced significant periods of self-doubt. Many of the women admitted to a lack of mentoring in their career and almost one in two reported being given their role when the company was in crisis, and the risk of failure was high.

Katie Lahey, Executive Chairman Korn Ferry said the company undertook the study in order to identify the inhibitors to women attaining CEO roles in Australia.

“With just 14 women in CEO roles in the ASX 200, and a weak pipeline of women in c-suite roles, we sought to better understand why more women aren’t in key leadership positions and the roadblocks to women’s advancement to reaching the position of CEO. Read more

Cec Busby - Startup Daily - 18 September 2018