World Economic Forum – Leadership for the Equity Challenge: Closing the Gap at the Top
“The real question is: are we willing to lead boldly enough to make equity in leadership a non-negotiable?”
– Temi Marcella, World Economic Forum, Geneva
Setting the Stage
As a discussion leader for “Leadership for the Equity Challenge: Closing the Gap at the Top”, hosted in close collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy & Society, I had the privilege of engaging with fellow YGLs on one of the most urgent challenges of our time: diverse leadership at the highest levels.
The Global Gender Gap 2025
The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025 makes the reality clear:
- Women hold just 28.8% of senior leadership roles
- Progress has stalled for the third consecutive year
- The “drop-to-the-top” persists — and is even steeper for LGBTQ+ leaders, people with disabilities, and ethnic or religious minorities
At the current pace, full parity is still more than a century away. That is unacceptable.
The Solutions
In our session, I invited us to shift the focus from fixing women to fixing systems – the entrenched, archaic structures that continue to block progress. I emphasized the need for:
1. Leadership redefined for a new era – collective, values-driven, and diverse.
2. Capital as a catalyst for impact – a force for equity, anchored in purpose.
3. Governance that is intentional, inclusive, and just.
4. Transparency and accountability that drive measurable impact.
5. Organizations and cultures redesigned to dismantle systemic barriers.
I highlighted examples like the Equality Fund’s Equality Fund’s feminist pioneering investment model, which amplifies both social and financial impact, and Goldman Sachs’ IPO diversity policy (which it ended in February 2025 citing legal developments), which demonstrates how systemic levers can accelerate rapid, measurable change.
The Path Forward
These reflections came as I processed the news of Poppy Gustafsson Poppy Gustafsson departure as Britain’s investment minister – a significant loss at a time when the UK is seeking to attract investment and assert global relevance. It underscores the urgency of advancing and safeguarding diverse leadership at the highest levels.
The question is no longer if diverse leadership adds value – we know it does. It drives performance, fuels innovations, builds resilience, and strengthens trust. The real question is: are we willing to lead boldly enough to make equity in leadership a non-negotiable?
Deep thanks to my fellow discussion leaders and to the WEF team – Silja Baller, Julia Hakspiel, and Antonia Pérez López for bring us together for this powerful dialogue.
#YGLAS25 #YGLSummit25 #Leadership #Equity #GenderParity #Investment #Boards #Politics
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