Women in Senior Leadership
Kellogg is dedicated to helping top female talent take their place at the highest levels of corporate leadership.
We are pleased to share the following collection of articles from the Kellogg faculty about women and leadership in business. This collection was prepared especially for Kellogg Leadership Circle members who have renewed their gifts.
In the featured articles, Kellogg faculty members share insights on gender diversity, inclusivity, board diversity and more.
![woman overcoming self-doubt at work](/imager/clientcontent/124246/boardroom_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/124246/boardroom_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/124246/boardroom_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Careers
What Will It Take to Get More Women on Boards?
Women make up less than a fifth of corporate board members. Changing that is a business imperative.
Victoria Medvec
July 6, 2018
![employees look out a business window at protestors](/imager/clientcontent/292724/FULL_0122_activism_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/292724/FULL_0122_activism_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/292724/FULL_0122_activism_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Hoping to Drive Social Change at Work? Here’s a Tip.
Certain social movement hashtags and labels could turn off the allies you want to recruit.
Cynthia S. Wang, Jennifer A. Whitson, Brayden King and Rachel L. Ramirez
February 1, 2022
![board of directors seated around table](/imager/clientcontent/264873/Full_0621_Board_Diversity_2_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/264873/Full_0621_Board_Diversity_2_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/264873/Full_0621_Board_Diversity_2_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Do Diverse Hiring Committees Choose More Diverse Leaders?
The answer comes down to organizational culture.
Justus A. Baron, Bernhard Ganglmair, Nicola Persico, Timothy Simcoe and Emanuele Tarantino
July 1, 2021
![Woman walking into boardroom with three seated men](/imager/clientcontent/260707/FULL_0521_Women_boardroom_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/260707/FULL_0521_Women_boardroom_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/260707/FULL_0521_Women_boardroom_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Companies Are Adding More Women to Their Boards. What’s Driving the Change?
“When your largest shareholders create a ruckus, you listen.”
Todd A. Gormley, Vishal K. Gupta, David A. Matsa, Sandra Mortal and Lukai Yang
May 3, 2021
![employees feel included in eqitable workplace](/imager/clientcontent/196446/StephensInclusion_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/196446/StephensInclusion_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/196446/StephensInclusion_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Are You Giving All of Your Employees an Equal Chance to Succeed?
Make sure your organization is truly inclusive by following these three steps.
Nicole Stephens
February 6, 2020
![Women are subject to greater gender bias when evaluated using certain ratings scales.](/imager/clientcontent/133962/rivera-bias-ratings_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/133962/rivera-bias-ratings_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/133962/rivera-bias-ratings_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Numeric Performance Reviews Can Be Biased Against Women
The ten-point scale favors men in some situations. But a simple change to the rating system can level the playing field.
Lauren Rivera and András Tilcsik
August 1, 2019
![There’s a business case for getting more women in tech and finance.](/imager/clientcontent/199663/LysDiversity_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/199663/LysDiversity_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/199663/LysDiversity_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Finance & Accounting
Yes, Investors Care About Gender Diversity
By recruiting more women, tech and finance companies stand to add millions to their stock value.
David Daniels, Jennifer Dannals, Thomas Lys and Margaret A. Neale
March 2, 2020
![A woman shakes a man's hand.](/imager/clientcontent/132598/Kellogg_DavidDoran_Artwork_3_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/132598/Kellogg_DavidDoran_Artwork_3_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/132598/Kellogg_DavidDoran_Artwork_3_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
Are Women More Ethical at the Negotiating Table? It’s Complicated.
Plus, how women are judged differently when they break the rules.
Jason R. Pierce, Leigh Thompson, Maryam Kouchaki, Laura J. Kray, Jessica Kennedy, Mary-Hunter "Mae" McDonnell and Nicole Stephens
December 6, 2018
![Negative economic news can lead voters to perceive women as less capable candidates.](/imager/clientcontent/133749/Bodenhausen_final1_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/133749/Bodenhausen_final1_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/133749/Bodenhausen_final1_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Politics & Elections
Are Voters Biased Against Female Politicians?
In many cases, no. But economic anxiety can ignite powerful gender stereotypes.
Ryan Lei and Galen Bodenhausen
July 1, 2019
![An executive tries to be an authentic leader.](/imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Careers
Take 5: The Case for Being More Authentic at Work
When done thoughtfully, authenticity can make for more confident, ethical leaders. Here’s how to ensure you’re being your true self.
Maryam Kouchaki, Suzanne Muchin, Brenda Ellington Booth, Brooke Vuckovic, Mohanbir S. Sawhney and Nicholas Pearce
October 2, 2019
![A man and a women cast nets into the water.](/imager/clientcontent/133001/networks_final_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/133001/networks_final_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/133001/networks_final_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Careers
To Land Top Jobs, Women Need Different Types of Networks than Men
Simply being well-connected is not enough.
Yang Yang, Nitesh V. Chawla and Brian Uzzi
March 1, 2019
![A woman negotiations at her job.](/imager/clientcontent/91359/MedvecNegotiation_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/91359/MedvecNegotiation_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/91359/MedvecNegotiation_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Careers
Five Ways Women Can Negotiate More Effectively
How to advocate for yourself at critical points in your career.
Victoria Medvec
March 1, 2018
![A group of coworkers sit in various chairs.](/imager/clientcontent/132750/Inclusivity_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/132750/Inclusivity_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/132750/Inclusivity_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Organizations
How to Make Inclusivity More Than Just an Office Buzzword
Tips for turning good intentions into actions.
Ellen Taaffe
January 4, 2019
![](/imager/clientcontent/179411/TheScienceOfTeams_Overview_transparent_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/179411/TheScienceOfTeams_Overview_transparent_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/179411/TheScienceOfTeams_Overview_transparent_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
What science can tell us about Building Great Teams
Assembling and managing successful teams is a core leadership skill, whether you are convening a temporary task force, managing a full department, or running a school fundraiser.
November 18, 2019
![An executive tries to be an authentic leader.](/imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7830/authent_final_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
5 Tips to Become an Authentic Leader
Sincerity can go a long way when stepping into a new role.
Brenda Ellington Booth and Brooke Vuckovic
March 7, 2016
![Employees use a conference room as a boxing ring.](/imager/clientcontent/15885/ThompsonRing_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/15885/ThompsonRing_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/15885/ThompsonRing_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
Three Ways Leaders Can Solve the “People Problems” That Hold Teams Back
Sometimes the conference room should be a boxing ring, other times a campfire.
Leigh Thompson and Tanya Menon
November 2, 2016
![Leadership of a high-impact team requires strategy](/imager/clientcontent/7626/KelloggSpot_ThompsonTeams_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7626/KelloggSpot_ThompsonTeams_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7626/KelloggSpot_ThompsonTeams_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
5 Strategies for Leading a High-Impact Team
Why “teams are not cocktail parties,” and other words of wisdom.
Leigh Thompson
July 1, 2016
![Keeping employees motivated when there's no ladder to climb can be tough.](/imager/clientcontent/8092/promotions_final_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/8092/promotions_final_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/8092/promotions_final_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
How to Keep Employees Motivated in the Absence of Promotions
Other incentives can keep employees happy in flat organizations.
Rongzhu Ke, Jin Li and Michael Powell
March 2, 2015
![Woman shoots arrow](/imager/clientcontent/107334/BlountBanner4_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/107334/BlountBanner4_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/107334/BlountBanner4_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Careers
Launch Your Career on the Right Trajectory
How women can maximize the post-college decade.
Sally Blount and Perry Yeatman
May 1, 2018
![Female leadership styles reduce the likelihood of worker layoffs.](/imager/clientcontent/7797/Woman_leaders_sunny_office_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7797/Woman_leaders_sunny_office_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7797/Woman_leaders_sunny_office_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
Is There a Female Leadership Style?
Data suggests the answer is “Yes”
David A. Matsa and Amalia R. Miller
September 4, 2012
![A business leader communicates complex ideas to a circle of employees.](/imager/clientcontent/7710/PetersenComplex_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7710/PetersenComplex_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7710/PetersenComplex_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
Six Tools for Communicating Complex Ideas
Business leaders need to know how to make their information stick.
Mitchell A. Petersen
September 7, 2016
![Women as leaders tend to do better in ethnically diverse environments .](/imager/clientcontent/7978/intl_women_talking_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/7978/intl_women_talking_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/7978/intl_women_talking_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
Leaders Do Matter—But When Does Their Gender Matter, Too?
Countries with high levels of ethnic diversity often suffer from slow economic growth—unless there is a woman in charge
Susan E. Perkins, Katherine W. Phillips and Nicholas Pearce
December 5, 2013
![Women supporting other women into the c-suite](/imager/clientcontent/35029/Pivot-Points2_24b460fa1ebea811277db04848c0c9ae.jpg 300w, /imager/clientcontent/35029/Pivot-Points2_827c6770ff3212869f8cd62919d4ad9e.jpg 150w, /imager/clientcontent/35029/Pivot-Points2_d790d93e6f5615a6551c6dd7531f3901.jpg 25w)
Leadership
Getting More Women into the C-Suite Means Keeping Them in the Talent Pipeline
How to support women through three “pivot points” in their careers.
Sally Blount
March 10, 2017