1、1Women in Business 2023The push for parity#womeninbusiness2ForewordKaritha Ericson,Global Leader Network Capability and Culture at Grant Thornton International Ltd Grant Thorntons International Business Report(IBR)has been casting a light on the issue of gender diversity in senior management at mid-

2、market businesses for 19 years,exposing barriers and identifying facilitators of change.While progress on the overall number of women in senior leadership continues,this years research shows it is concerningly slow.On a global level,32.4%of senior management positions in mid-market businesses are no

3、w held by women,an increase of just half a percentage point(pp)since 2022 and only 13pp since our research was first undertaken in 2004.At this rate just 34%ofsenior leadership positions will be held by women in 2025.According to the World Economic Forums(WEF)Global Gender Gap report,it will take an

4、other 132 years to address the global gender gap.1 Grant Thornton Women in Business 2023:ForewordPOSITIVE PROGRESSLEADING ROLEMODELS OF WORKINGWORK TO BE DONEGRANT THORNTONFOREWORD3Our research suggests that mid-market businesses must push for parity,and quickly.Intentional action from businesses is

5、 needed to accelerate progress.Our research identifies a number of factors which could support this acceleration.Firstly,more women now hold the most senior positions than ever before 28%of mid-market businesses now have a female chief executive officer(CEO)or managing director(MD),up from 15%in 201

6、9.This trend is likely to lead to new diversity strategies,focused on increasing diversity at a senior management level and taking more businesses towards gender parity.Secondly,external pressures around Environmental,Social and Governance(ESG)factors demand the creation of new strategies,including