This document discusses the need for greater gender equality and female leadership in Europe. It notes that currently women make up a small percentage of board members in public companies across Europe. It also explores some of the barriers that prevent more women from advancing to leadership positions, such as gender stereotypes, lack of work-life balance policies, and an organizational culture that favors long work hours. The document argues that increasing female representation in leadership is important for competitiveness and sustainability, and that both female and male leadership styles are valuable and complementary. Overall, it advocates for change to promote greater gender equality and female advancement in European business.

1. Female Leadership in Europe
– a driver for change ...
EWMD Regional Conference, Maribor 2009
Teresa Correia de Lacerda, International President of EWMD

2. Summary
1. What is the gender equality situation in
Europe?
2. Why aren’t enough women on the
boards?
3. Are there different leadership styles for
women and men?
4. Why is change necessary?
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3. 1. What is the gender equality
situation in Europe?
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4. % Women on Board in the Public Companies
20 18
16
15 13
11
10 8
6
5 4
3
0
Source: EC, Women in Decision-Making Positions, 2008.
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5. Gender equality in Europe – an
impossible dream ...
Well, we at EWMD don't think
so!
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6. 2. Why aren’t enough women
on the boards?
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7. The Labyrinth of Female Leadership ...
Social Capital
Part-time Job Caretaking for
elderly people
Job Stereotypes Maternity Leave
Work-Life Balance Leadership as a
Male Job
Wage Gap Child Care
Source: McKinsey, 2007, 2008; Eagly & Carli, 2007, HBR.
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8. Changing the Organizational Culture...
• Avoid discrimination
• Change the long-hours norm
• Objectively measuring performance
• Use open-recruit tools and target a fair share of
talent pool
• Ensure critical mass of women in executive
positions
• Help women to develop their social capital
• Implement family-friendly practices
• Requiring top-management commitment
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9. Several and profound obstacles...
Urgent, a mindset change is
required!
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10. 3. Are there different leadership
styles for women and men?
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11. Different attitudes & behaviours ...
Female Leadership Male Leadership
• Cooperative and • Tough and
Socially Oriented Aggressive
• Team Work • Absolute Winner
• Willing to Share • Focused in Winning
Power • Self Promotion
• Respects the Others • Insensitive to Critics
• Caring • Enjoy Holding the
Power
Source: Evans, G., Survey from University of Emory, 2000. www.ewmd.org

12. Different leadership traits...
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13. Different attitudes and
behaviours ...
Hence, complementarity is the key!
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14. 4. Why is change necessary?
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15. A Factor of Competitiveness...
• positive relation between women in top
level positions and a better financial
performance of companies
• women have a transformational
leadership style
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16. A Factor of Competitiveness...
• enlarged talent pool when companies
also consider women for top level
positions
• women are the decision-makers for 80%
of consumer goods
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17. A Driver for Sustainability...
• Long Term Vision
• Holistic Perspective
• Ethics of Care
• Corporate Social Responsibility
An example from Iceland ...
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18. Halla Tómasdóttir from Audur Capital ...
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19. Empowering women will change
the world ...
”I alone cannot change the world,
but I can cast a stone across the
waters to create many ripples.”
— Mother Teresa
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20. Thank you!
Contacts:
Email: tlacerda@sapo.pt
Tel: +351 917 236 294
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