A groundbreaking report from Grant Thornton reveals that without immediate action, gender parity in senior management roles in mid-market companies won't be achieved until 2051—a stark reminder of the urgency to address gender inequality.
Despite steady progress in recent years, women currently hold just 34.0% of senior leadership positions globally, an increase of only 0.5 percentage points from 2024. At this rate, a young woman beginning her career today will likely spend more than a quarter of a century before seeing gender-balanced leadership in mid-market firms.
“We celebrate mid-market businesses for their agility and invention,” says Karitha Ericson, global leader of network capability, culture, and corporate sustainability at Grant Thornton International Limited (GTIL).
“It’s what makes them one of the most dynamic parts of the global economy. Their actions and decisions can be a catalyst for change – and when applied to the challenge of gender equality in senior management positions their effort can be transformational. Reach parity quicker and we will all see the benefits of stronger economies, better performing business, and fairer, more inclusive cultures. The pressure is on to take action, but the opportunity is also there for us all to grasp.”
The latest Women in Business 2025 report emphasises the critical role mid-market firms play, as they account for 90% of global businesses and create two-thirds of jobs worldwide. The costs of inaction are profound, with research from the International Monetary Fund indicating that closing the gender gap in developing markets alone could boost GDP by 23%.
Grant Thornton calls on business leaders to:
“In our own organisation as well, the ambition is clear: we must increase gender diversity. We are well aware of how important it is to commit to diversity in the broad sense, and to continue to work towards inclusion. But we must admit that we are not there yet. It is clear that we need to show even more determination and accelerate action to arrive at the point where we should be,” says Leslie Van den Branden, Managing Partner Grant Thornton Belgium. “Through our ‘allyship’ programme, we aim to support women aspiring to leadership roles by pairing them with our current leaders, who are predominantly male. The goal is to encourage women to believe that their competencies make the difference, not their gender. In doing so, we seek to provide everyone within our organisation with equal opportunities based on objective criteria, as well as the confidence to take the next step.”
"The mid-market is the heartbeat of the global economy, and its potential is only fully realised when we embrace diverse leadership,” says Peter Bodin, CEO of GTIL. This isn't just about equality – it's about unlocking unprecedented economic growth. By accelerating action on gender balance, we're not just opening doors for women; we're creating a more innovative, resilient and dynamic business landscape for generations to come."
The message is clear: acting now on gender parity isn't just about fairness—it's a business imperative with the power to transform economies.
A groundbreaking report from Grant Thornton reveals that without immediate action, gender parity in senior management roles in mid-market companies won't be achieved until 2051—a stark reminder of the urgency to address gender inequality.
