The fact is, female leaders are not as pervasive as they should be. Let’s look at some numbers:

FEMALE LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

•  According to Catalyst.org, women hold 5.2 % of Fortune 500 CEO positions and 5.4 % of Fortune 1000 CEO positions

•  According to CNN NewSource, only 17% of higher-paid tech positions at Microsoft are occupied by women

•  According to Apple.com, only 30% of their workforce is comprised of females

HOWEVER, THE FEMALES WHO HAVE THESE POSITIONS ARE DOING EXCEPTIONALLY WELL

Safra Catz, co-CEO of Oracle, is the highest paid CEO in the world, alongside her co-CEO (data from CNN NewSource)

BUT… THERE’S STILL A HUGE GAP

According to a recent congressional report, only 7% of women-founded business receive venture capital funding (Forbes.com)

WHAT TO DO NOW?

•  BE AWARE OF THE GAP. AWARENESS LEADS TO CHANGE

DEMONSTRATE YOUR AWARENESS

•  IF YOU ARE AN ENTERPRISE, YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE THE AWARENESS OF THE GAP BY HAVING A FEMALE-CENTRIC PANEL AT YOUR EVENTS, OR INCLUDING FEMALE SPEAKERS ON YOUR LINE-UP

REMEMBER THE LAST TIME APPLE

HAD A FEMALE SPEAKER AT THEIR LAUNCH? NEITHER DO WE.

IF YOU ARE A FEMALE LEADER IN BUSINESS OR TECH… IF YOU ARE A FEMALE LEADER, MENTOR YOUNG FEMALE

LEADERS. ENCOURAGE THEM TO PAVE THEIR WAY IN MALE-CENTRIC INDUSTRIES

THE TAKEAWAY

ABOVE ALL ELSE, LOOK AT WHAT

PEOPLE DO, AND THE RESULTS THEY PRODUCE, NOT WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE