Women’s Leadership, Gender Integration and DEI in the Impact Sector
Gender diversity is a key driver of productivity, innovation, and employee retention, yet the current landscape reveals a significant gap. Despite higher educational attainment and a growing Indian economy, a substantial number of urban women professionals are exiting the workforce. Research by Indian Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) highlights that even when women do participate in the workforce, they encounter environments that are unequal and predominantly structured for men to succeed. This deep-seated inequality calls for a deeper exploration of the multifaceted barriers that hinder women’s leadership and advancement, particularly in the social sector.
Acknowledging the importance of gender integration and the role of organisations in advancing women’s leadership, EquiLead undertook a rigorous landscaping study, “Unpacking Gender-Equitable Leadership in Organizations". The first phase, conducted between December 2022 and June 2023, involved a sample of 70 organisations. To ensure broader diversity and representation, a second phase was conducted from August to October 2024, expanding the sample to 128 organisations. This report presents the consolidated findings from both phases of the study.