A recent study, 'Male Alliances and Women’s Leadership: Beyond the Discourse,' conducted by Todas Group in partnership with Nexus, reveals that a significant majority of women in leadership roles (80%) have faced gender-based barriers in their career advancement. Among the surveyed women, 77% acknowledged encountering obstacles due to their gender, with 46% experiencing some difficulties and 31% facing many barriers. Notably, 17% reported never having faced such issues, indicating that experiences vary widely among individuals in leadership positions.

The perception of these barriers appears to increase as women ascend the corporate ladder. Among those holding the highest leadership roles such as presidents, vice-presidents, partners, and CEOs, 40% reported encountering many gender-related difficulties, which is a higher percentage than the overall average for all respondents. This suggests that as women take on more prominent and influential positions, they may be met with heightened resistance and challenges related to their gender.

In light of International Women’s Day on March 8, the survey also asked women what concrete changes they would like their companies to implement. This finding highlights the ongoing discussion about gender equality in the workplace and the urgent need for companies to address these barriers to support women in leadership roles and ensure equitable opportunities for advancement across all levels of corporate hierarchy.