New research makes it increasingly clear that companies with more diverse workforces perform better financially.

Women enter the workforce with aspirations equal to their male coworkers, but few women actually reach the top. What do the best female leaders do to buck this trend?

Confirming the existence of the gender gap – most notably in the composition of corporate management bodies - the McKinsey study offers fact-based insights into the importance for companies of fostering the development of women in the business area, so that a greater number attain positions of high responsibility.

Women in governing positions positively influence the company’s performance. Organizations that timely take appropriate measures and help talented women climb up the corporate ladder will gain a decisive competitive edge.

Previous studies suggest that diversity has a positive impact on the bottom line, so iti is not surprising that increasing numbers of companies devote considerable financial and human resources to developing and leveraging diversity.

Depuis 2008, l’Observatoire analyse l’évolution du pourcentage de femmes dans les effectifs et l’encadrement des 60 plus grandes entreprises privées françaises.

While the study shows that the proportion of women in senior management is similar to that on the boards of companies, their roles are arguably skewed towards areas of less influence or offer less opportunity to move into the most senior positions in a company.

With regards to business performance, we find clear evidence that companies with a higher proportion of women in decision-making roles continue to generate higher returns on equity, while running more conservative balance sheets.

Research continues to highlight the link between business performance and gender diversity.

Though the leadership ranks of the Fortune 500 are far from reaching gender parity, companies that are ahead of the curve enjoy a significantly stronger reputation and more competitiveness in the job market.

Une entreprise qui fait de la place aux femmes a plus de chance d'accroître ses performances financières, selon l’étude de Michel Ferrary (Observatoire de la féminisation des entreprises).

Investors benefit when a company has more women on its board of directors, according to a new report by MSCI, the US-based financial index provider.
Firms with a strong-female influence on their boards performed 36% better in terms of return on equity than those that didn’t. MSCI defined a “strong-female influence” as having three or more female directors, or a female CEO and another female director. Those firms had a 10.1% return on equity, a measure of the profits a company is garnering for shareholders.

Opinion: Everyone is trying to prove the business case for diversity, but advocating for equal opportunity should have a moral basis, not a business one.

Analysis of a unique gender based dataset collected by RobecoSAM and based on criteria identified in collaboration with the EDGE Certified Foundation1 confirms that there is inequality across all industries in terms of gender representation, pay and promotion. They find that gender diversity and equality contribute to better corporate performance and investment returns.

Striving to increase workplace diversity is not an empty slogan — it is a good business decision.