WASHINGTON, September 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In honor of National Women’s Business Day, the Women Business Collaborative (WBC), Ascend, C200 and Catalyst released the third annual report highlighting America’s female CEOs! In the summer of 2022, 8.8% of CEOs were women, and today women are 9% of Fortune 500 CEOs.
“The Women CEOs in America Report offers much more than just data related to women leading major corporations in the country,” said Eddie Fraser, CEO of the WBC. “It goes beyond the numbers to provide insight into what’s happening and why, adding depth and breadth to the data and helping to position the numbers in the context of not just corporate America, but our society as a whole.”
While the numbers are increasing on the Fortune 500, the promotion of women of color is lagging in the indices that include the Fortune, S&P 500 and private companies.
There is still significant progress to be made to place more diverse CEOs at the helm of America’s largest companies. “ There has been a huge increase in the number of women starting businesses. Research shows that women own 40% of all companies in America, with black and Latino founders starting businesses in record numbers. We’re sharing this report to hold companies accountable for ensuring that women, especially women of color, have equal access to leadership opportunities and networks for advancement.” —Kimber MaderazzoChair, C200
The five key takeaways from this year’s report:
- Change is happening. Although the numbers show slow progress in the C-Suite of the country’s leading companies, key indicators of gender equality are moving in a positive direction.
- Tolerance and inclusion. Younger workers bring a strong desire for greater tolerance and inclusion never seen before.
- Change must start from the top. CEOs and boards need to do more to demonstrate that diversity and inclusion are a necessity, not a mercy.
- Mentors and sponsors are important. Women remain at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to mentors, networks and sponsors. Corporate leaders, both male and female, need to step up and serve as mentors and sponsors to early and mid-career women.
- Diverse leadership is about performance. Women CEOs and leaders in government tangibly demonstrate the talents, skills and contributions women bring to their companies and their communities.
This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of women running Fortune 500, Fortune 1000, Russell 3000, S&P 500, private companies by 1 billion dollarsand women entrepreneurs over 500 million dollars. The insights and analysis in the report outline the 10 accelerators that business and society can do to ensure that the number of female CEOs grows.
We are more than ready and will bring to the positions not only multicultural and multifaceted perspectives, experience and wisdom, but the fortitude and resilience of having had to go through multiple barriers and glass ceilings along the way – all strengths that will help our companies thrive in an increasingly complex and interconnected world!” he says Anna Mockpresident and chairman, Ascend
“This year, the number of CEOs reached a record high of 44, and this report underscores what we’ve long known about women’s progress to the top of the C-suite: progress is slow, but it’s possible,” said Lorraine Harriton, President and CEO, Catalyst
The report was presented on the second day of the annual WBC Action For Impact Summit. For more information and to download a copy of the report, visit www.wbcollaborative.org.
About Women Business Collaborative
The Women Business Collaborative (WBC) is an unprecedented alliance of 75+ women’s business organizations and hundreds of business leaders building a movement to achieve equal positions, pay and power for all women in business. Through collaboration, advocacy, action and accountability, we mobilize thousands of diverse professional women and men, business organizations, public and private companies to accelerate change.
About Ascend
Climb is the largest pan-Asian business professional membership organization in North America dedicated to driving workplace and societal impact by developing and elevating all Asian and Pacific Islander (API) business leaders and empowering them to become catalysts for change.
About C200
C200 is a women’s business leadership organization whose mission is to educate, inspire, support and encourage women in business. Her community includes the most successful female entrepreneurs and corporate business leaders who have come together to change the face of business leadership
About Catalyst
Catalyst is a global non-profit organization supported by many of the world’s most influential CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with superior thought leadership, actionable solutions, and an energized community of multinational corporations to accelerate and advance women in leadership—because progress for women is progress for all.
SOURCE Women’s Business Collaboration