Why Women Don’t Make It Up The Ladder

A new study offers explanations for a great disappearing act.

The corporate quest for equality for women in management is a lot like motherhood: Everybody is for it. Bain & Company recently conducted a survey of more than 1,800 businesspeople worldwide, and nearly 80% of them–women and men–said they were convinced of the benefits of gender parity at all levels. And for good reason: Many businesses recognize that retaining more women as they ascend the corporate ladder will add diversity of experience and perspective and also will help them understand women as buyers and influencers. Higher retention rates will also save companies millions in recruiting and retraining costs. There’s only one problem: The mechanism for getting women into leadership positions is flawed…