Le Pas De Cote De Femmes Dirigeantes - Etude Qualitative

This study, based on an original survey conducted among the alumni of the Women Board Ready - ESSEC program*, aims to clarify the demands that women managers in France are now expressing, even though public policies, including the Ioi Rixain of December 24, 2021, are strongly encouraging companies to increase the gender mix in positions of power. Do they still aspire to build a career in the traditional sense of the term? The survey revealed the following elements: their way of conceiving the exercise of "power", of carrying out their professional mission and of balancing professional and personal success leads them to make choices, to set conditions or even to take a "side step": to refuse an appointment, or even to leave altogether etc. If they are asking for support from the company on issues that were previously considered to be private, they are above all expressing a strong expectation of respect for values and are asking for real and concrete changes that go beyond a simple corporate discourse of good taste. These "whistleblowers" are raising their voices. *These women with high-level professional backgrounds and in various sectors, in companies or as independents, constitute a representative sample of the potential expectations of women in leadership positions in France. The study consisted in comparing this survey with articles, studies and books on this little-known subject in order to consolidate the diagnosis. Between 2022 and 2023, it is striking to note that this rather inaudible subject becomes key and is covered by press articles and reports from consulting firms. The fact remains that academic research is still rare, even though companies are challenged by this phenomenon of active and resolute speaking out by women who are offered positions at the highest level. Dig again the subject therefore seemed relevant.