The YPO Global Chief Executive Gender Equality Survey is the first of its kind conducted in partnership with the Financial Times and the United Nation’s HeForShe initiative. The research uncovered groundbreaking insights about the journeys women and men around the world took to reach the corner office. This report provides needed research to help uncover gender specific roadblocks leaders face in their path to becoming a chief executive and how to remove those obstacles for the next generation of leaders.
Conducted 10-22 March 2021 with 2,079 YPO members chief executives from 106 countries responding, the Survey provides needed research on what gender specific roadblocks leaders face in their path toward becoming a chief executive and gleaned actionable insights on how to remove them for future generations of leaders. YPO member respondents run businesses that have annual revenues ranging from USD10 million to more than USD1 billion in over 30 industries – from manufacturing, health care, technology, and retail to real estate.
Women’s path to the C-suite may be stymied by self-discovery and societal expectations. About half of male respondents (51%) knew early in their careers they wanted to be chief executives, while only one-third of female respondents knew. Twenty-nine percent of male respondents said they became chief executives as part of their family business succession plan. This compares to just 23% of women.
The journey among this unique group to becoming a CEO is longer for female leaders, averaging two years more among YPO members.
Men surveyed became chief executives at an average age of 33.6 while women took on the role at an average age of 35.4.
Currently, 35% of male respondents said their companies offer gender wage gap analysis voluntarily, whereas with female-led companies, 42% offer it voluntarily. Thirty-nine percent of all respondents at companies employing more than 500 people voluntarily carry out a gender wage gap analysis.
