REPORT

Investing in Women
2026 Global Outlook

Global Shift Puts Focus on Boards, Pay, Leadership

Global gender-diversity drivers are diverging. In the US, backlash has prompted companies to roll back DEI programs, while anti-DEI proposals gain traction. Meanwhile, momentum continues to build in Europe and Asia-Pacific, where board gender-diversity quotas and pay-transparency rules are advancing. Yet progress at the board level has not consistently translated into gains in executive leadership or remuneration parity.

Key report highlights:

  • Women make up a median 36% of all employees, but only 28% of senior management
  • Europe has used quotas to boost female representation, making it a board-diversity leader
  • The share of US companies tying bonuses to workplace diversity has reversed earlier gains

Download the report now to explore how gender diversity is evolving from a governance priority to a material risk, performance and policy issue across global markets.

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