Executives in Italy: Only one in six is a woman

The research addresses the issue of gender asymmetry in executive positions in Italy. While it is widely known that women are underrepresented in leadership roles, a detailed picture of CEOs and their direct reports was lacking. The main questions the research sought to answer are: What is the actual presence of women in executive positions? In which functions are they most concentrated, and what are the barriers limiting their access to top corporate roles, particularly the role of CEO? The study aims to provide concrete data to better understand the systemic difficulties preventing women from reaching the highest positions. It also suggests possible strategies to overcome them.

The survey analyzed the executive teams of 320 large Italian companies, including 169 listed companies, involving 2,920 executives.

Women executives: One in six 

Only one in six executives (17%) is a woman, with a higher concentration in staff roles, while business-related roles show a significantly lower female presence. This imbalance is particularly evident in listed companies, which surprisingly adopt less inclusive practices than non-listed companies. In fact, non-listed companies show a higher representation of women in business functions.

Sectors and role rotation 

Contrary to expectations, the gender gap is wide across all sectors, including banking, insurance, and services, where gender balance is often assumed to be better. Moreover, women executives change roles more frequently than their male counterparts (every 7.35 years versus 8.25 years for men), possibly indicating greater difficulty in finding stability or advancement in top positions.

The new generations 

Younger generations show a reduced gender gap compared to older ones, although the problem persists. Among baby boomers, women executives represent 10%, a percentage that rises to 25% among Millennials. The average age of female executives is 50, compared to 54 for men.

Projections highlight the need for companies to take concrete measures to accelerate the development paths of female executives, promoting mobility across functional areas and fostering international experiences.

The survey shows that significant barriers remain in women's access to CEO positions, particularly in the operations, finance, and strategy sectors. One of the main factors contributing to this gap is the low female participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education, which disadvantages women during career advancement.

Alessandro Minichilli, Valentino D’Angelo, Giulia Corbella. Le donne executive in Italia: presenza, ruoli e percorsi di carriera. A study by Osservatorio Donne Executive, Corporate Governance Lab.