Closing the Gender Gap in Senior Leadership

This insight report presents a global, cross-industry analysis of where progress towards gender parity in senior leadership stands today and the structural factors that continue to shape it. Developed by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society as part of the Global Gender Parity Sprint, the report draws on novel data from the LinkedIn Economic Graph Research Institute and Egon Zehnder, alongside case studies and insights from leaders across business, government, academia and civil society.

To support action, the report presents a future-fit framework for senior leadership parity, organized around four pillars: redefining leadership capabilities, rewiring power pathways, building fair selection systems and redesigning the conditions under which leadership is exercised. The aim is to equip business and policy leaders with evidence-based insights and practical levers to build more inclusive, resilient and future-ready leadership systems.