New research from Grant Thornton reveals that without immediate action, gender parity in leadership positions will not be achieved until 2051. This stark reality underscores the urgency of addressing gender inequality.

Despite steady progress in recent years, women currently hold only 34% of the world's leadership positions—an increase of just 0.5 percentage points since 2024. At this pace, a young woman entering the workforce today will likely spend more more than a quarter of a century before experiencing gender-balanced leadership.

The agility and innovation of businesses drive the global economy. Leaders' actions and decisions can be catalysts for change, particularly in closing the gender gap. Achieving parity faster will unlock economic growth, foster fairer business practices, and create more inclusive cultures. The pressure to act is great, but so is the opportunity.

The latest  Women in Business 2025 study highlights the crucial role of mid-sized companies, which account for 90% of global businesses and create two-thirds of jobs worldwide. The cost of inaction is high—research from the International Monetary Fund shows that closing the gender gap in emerging markets alone could boost GDP by 23%.

Grant Thornton calls on all companies to take decisive action:

• Set bold targets for female representation in leadership.
  Currently, 63.9% of companies lack a target for women in senior management. Without a clear goal, progress risks stagnation.
• Support women throughout their careers to retain and develop talent.
  Mentorship, networking, and retention programs are proven to drive diversity but are among the least implemented strategies. Our research shows that 61.1% of companies have increased the gender balance in their leadership teams. Companies that set mentoring (50.7%) or retention (50.7%) targets have seen significant improvement over the past year.
• Hold external partners accountable for diversity in supply chains.
  More than 77.6% of mid-sized companies report receiving requests from investors, clients, or partners to demonstrate their commitment to gender diversity. Among those that took action, 56.3% increased female representation in senior roles within the past 12 months.

Mid-sized companies are the backbone of the global economy, and their full potential can only be realized by embracing diversity in leadership. Gender equality is not just a social issue—it’s an economic imperative with the power to drive innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth.

The message is clear: acting now on gender equality is not just fair—it is essential for business success and economic transformation.

Grant Thornton's Women in Business 2025 research can be found at the following link, and for more information send an inquiry to our local experts.