Why only 20% of women reach senior roles in the same company while 49% of men do

For years, corporate India has emphasised diversity and equal opportunity in the workplace.

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Yet the path to leadership still looks very different for men and women.A recent study shows that only about 20% of women reach senior leadership positions within the same organisation, compared with 49% of men, highlighting a persistent gap in internal career progression.

The findings come from a study on gender and leadership in India Inc, which examined career trajectories across organisations. Interestingly, the research suggests that the difference is not due to lower ambition among women. Both men and women express similar career goals, valuing growth opportunities, meaningful work and strong leadership culture.

Despite having comparable aspirations, the career paths of men and women begin to diverge as they progress through their careers. By the time professionals reach their late careers—around age 50—nearly half of men have advanced to senior roles within the same company, while only one in five women achieve the same.