Bain & Company is proud to be a strategic partner and active member of the World Economic Forum, an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas. In 2010, Bain fully engaged with the 40th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting at Davos. Bain leaders shared expertise and offered solutions that supported the key themes of the event: rethink innovation and risk management, redesign institutions and business models, and rebuild trust. Two highlights were Bain's findings on Gender Parity and IT and Telecommunications.
The gender agenda: Putting parity in the workplace
Orit Gadiesh, chairman, Bain & Company cites a Bain survey on "Gender Parity in the Workplace" in a debate hosted by CNBC, in partnership with the World Economic Forum.
Gadiesh makes the point that while more than 80 percent of men and women aspire to be senior leaders in their organization, very few women realize their dreams. Something disturbing happens to women as they climb rungs up the corporate ladder-they disappear. "Flex jobs and flex careers are great but things won't change unless companies restructure their promotion processes."
As the economy picks up, management teams will again need to focus on finding and keeping top talent-men and women. Organizations will find filling the talent pipeline difficult if they do not focus on retaining the female half of the workforce.
IT and Telecommunication industry The recession hit the IT and Telecommunication industry (ICT) hard, yet some products and services still saw dramatic growth in 2009. As we look to the future, will the broader ICT sector see a return to growth, and if so, where will that growth come from? This video, co-developed by the World Economic Forum and Bain & Company, summarizes the key questions ICT companies face when planning growth strategies for 2010 and beyond.
Related content: Davos 2010
At the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in 2010, global leaders focused on the theme "Improve the State of the World: Rethink, Redesign and Rebuild." In more than 200 hundred sessions, they discussed topics as varied as the response to the global crisis, leadership development, innovation, economies in transition, managing in a low carbon world, sustainability, and the rise of Asia. Bain's contribution: practical solutions and pertinent insights that can help leaders make informed choices on these complex issues.
Visit www.bain.com/partnerships/wef for more information about Bain's involvement with the WEF and our participation in its annual and regional meetings.
Markets, economy & job growth
CNBC 01/28/10
Steve Ellis, Managing Director of Bain & Company, kicked off CNBC correspondent Maria Bartiromo's live coverage from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. His perspective on areas of growth for 2010, including M&A, technology, healthcare and innovation are featured. Watch video
Study asks: Who has easy path to top? The Wall Street Journal 1/28/2010 In early January, consulting firm Bain & Company surveyed 1,834 business professionals world-wide on gender parity in the workplace. Achieving gender parity in the workplace is possible if business leaders take a systematic and customized approach to finding out what derails women along the way at their organizations, says Orit Gadiesh, chairman of Bain & Company. Go to The Wall Street Journal
European lenders may create 'new wave' of buyouts, Bain says Business Week 1/28/2010 European banks will create a "new wave" of takeover opportunities for private equity firms as lenders sell their payment services and asset-management divisions, according to a Bain & Company executive, Paolo Bordogna, European regional financial-services practice leader at the consulting firm. Go to BusinessWeek
New survey finds more than 70% of employees believe gender parity programs are failing
Bain & Company press release Far-reaching Bain & Company survey of 1,834 participants finds lingering gender perception gap, but says lack of management focus and commitment are biggest barriers keeping women out of C-suite. Read on Bain.com
Is advancement in the workplace gender neutral?
The Wall Street Journal Most men and women agree that opportunities to get hired at the junior level are the same regardless of gender for equally qualified candidates, a new survey shows. But when it comes to attaining senior leadership positions, men have a much rosier view than women that hiring is indeed gender neutral. In a recent Bain & Company study, findings showed 81% of men said opportunities to advance to middle management are equally attainable by both sexes, compared with just 52% of women. Go to The Wall Street Journal
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