Women are still being badly overlooked in hiring

"Contrary to what many people think, more often than not, the problem is not a shortage of capable leaders. Rather, it is a failure of the systems designed to identify, develop, and advance them, which simultaneously results in selecting and investing in the wrong candidates, with tragic consequences for organizations."

"Research further shows that women tend, on average, to score higher on several of the leadership capabilities organizations claim to value most. These include emotional intelligence, self-awareness, collaboration, and integrity, and they have proven links to stronger leadership performance. Women are also less likely to display certain 'dark side' personality traits such as narcissism, impulsivity, and excessive risk-taking."

"For several years now, women have represented more than half of the workforce in most advanced economies. They also outperform men in higher education across the OECD, earning the majority of university and postgraduate degrees. In many countries, women also achieve higher average grades and completion rates."

Organizations struggle to select and develop effective leaders despite decades of research, advanced analytics, and AI capabilities. The core problem is not a shortage of capable leaders but rather flawed systems for identifying, developing, and advancing talent. Women exemplify this systemic failure: they comprise over half the workforce in advanced economies, outperform men in higher education, and demonstrate higher levels of valued leadership qualities including emotional intelligence, self-awareness, collaboration, and integrity. Women also display fewer destructive personality traits like narcissism and excessive risk-taking. Despite these advantages, women remain underrepresented in leadership positions as careers progress, indicating that organizational selection systems systematically overlook qualified candidates.

Read at Fast Company