LeadershipMid-Year 2025 Insights – The Evolving Landscape of Women in Corporate Leadership in India
Leadership, People Development, Self Mastery, Women Leadership

Mid-Year 2025 Insights – The Evolving Landscape of Women in Corporate Leadership in India

Having more women in the workplace barrier was surpassed a few years ago, with entry-level numbers of both genders being almost at par.

The next challenge was to move to having more women in decision-making leadership positions, to enable the rethink / fresh thinking from a gender perspective, sustainability, etc.

The current reality is that the trend line for women’s leadership in India Inc. is rising, though at a tad slow pace. While intent and policy are strengthening, execution & cultural transformation, the key to sustaining momentum are sluggish.

Shared in this blog is collated data from various research agencies like Avatar, Times of India, Economic Times, McKinsey, etc.

A Snapshot

Leadership Tier

Female Representation

Board Seats

18–19%

Board Chairs

4%

C‑Suite Roles

17%

Female CEOs

5.1%

Junior Positions

33%

Women in Key Roles

Absent in 63% of companies

Senior Leadership Representation

Board Representation: Women Occupy Roughly 20 % Board Roles in India Inc (McKinsey’s 2025 ‘Women in the Workplace’)

C‑Suite Roles: Women Hold Only 17% Of C‑Suite Positions (The Guardian+ Reuters

Executive Leadership: Female CEOs Represent About 5.1% Of All CEO Roles, Up From 3.4% In 2018 (Business Standard).

Breaking Through:

In July 2025, Priya Nair Became the First Female MD and CEO Of Hindustan Unilever, A Landmark Appointment in a Top Indian Corporation (Economic Times)

Rising Pipeline Strength: The Average Number of Seats Held Per Woman—Increased Slightly (1.32 In 2023 Vs 1.30 In 2021), Still Reflects a Limited Leadership Pipeline (Business Standard).

Trends and Systemic Barriers

Limited Internal Mobility: Despite Improving Board Numbers, 63% of Surveyed Companies Have No Women in Key Managerial Roles, Even Though Firms with Women in Leadership Report Higher Returns (TOI)

Token Representation: Deloitte Finds That Although 21% Of Listed Companies Have Women on Boards, A Staggering 97% Of Those Boards Have Just One Woman — Highlighting How Representation Often Lacks Depth or Power (TOI).

Mid‑Career Attrition And “Menopenalisation”: Women in Their Late 40s And 50s Are Disproportionately Exiting or Being Sidelined Due To Age and Menopause Stigma, At A Time When They Could Contribute Most in Leadership Roles (Guardian)

Inclusive Cities: Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, And Pune Rank Highest in Gender Inclusion and Women’s Career Opportunities Among 120 Indian Cities, According to Avtar’s 2025 Report.

Sector Wise Details:

BFSI (Banking, Financial Services & Insurance)

  • Female Leadership: 5% of Corporate Executives are Women, which is higher than the average 

IT / Technology / STEM / GCCS

  • General Workforce: Rising From 10.8% in 2022 to 13–14% in specialized Tech Roles in 2025
  • GCC Centres Projected to Reach 35% Female Workforce by 2027
  • Female Leadership in Senior IT/Global Capability Centres: 19% 
  • FMCG Leadership: 21.5% Women Executives 

Manufacturing / Engineering

  • Women Make Up 7% Of Formal Manufacturing Workforce(FY 23–24), With Electronics Manufacturing Reaching 80% women in Specific Roles

 

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