Research Findings on the Power of Women Leaders

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To the celebrated mantra, "Strong women: may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them," I propose an addition: "May we lead like them." As we celebrate Women's History Month, here are four fascinating research findings on the power of women leaders.

Women Leaders and Culture

Jennifer Franczak and I analyzed data from companies featured in the Great Place to Work survey over three years. Our focus? The impact of women in management roles on company culture. By examining the ratio of women in management to the total number of female employees, we uncovered intriguing insights.

Published in the journal Organizational Dynamics, our findings reveal a clear trend: Companies with a higher proportion of women in leadership positions are consistently rated by employees as great(er) places to work. These companies are perceived as safer, more enjoyable, and friendlier environments. This research underscores the positive influence female leaders have on workplace culture.

Women Leaders and the Bottom Line

Corinne Post and Kris Byron analyzed the results of 140 studies covering a vast array of companies worldwide to understand better how women on corporate boards impacted firm financial performance. Publishing their analysis in 2015 in the Academy of Management Journal, the results showed that the presence of women on boards positively impacted accounting returns.

Additionally, factors like operating in nations with higher gender parity magnified this positive outcome. It appears that when women contribute their distinct viewpoints and principles to boardroom dialogues, they release the true power of diversity within their organizations.

Women Leaders During Crises

Kayla Sergent and Alexander Stajkovic's analysis of gubernatorial actions during the COVID-19 pandemic presented an intriguing discovery: States helmed by women experienced fewer COVID-19 deaths—a finding that remained significant even when considering the interplay of variables such as political affiliation, state size, and the governor's age.

Digging deeper, the researchers examined female governors' briefings during the pandemic. They found that the women's communication style was more empathetic and confident than the male governors. Ultimately, this communication helped foster compliance with public health directives.

Women Leaders and Women's Health

A team of researchers from Harvard University, McGill University, and the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Empresa (IESE) dedicated themselves to examining all U.S. biomedical patents filed from 1976 to 2010. They discovered that innovations by women significantly prioritized women's health needs, with the trend being most pronounced when the teams comprised entirely of women.

This suggests that when women lead and participate in research teams, they spearhead breakthroughs that broadly benefit women. By nurturing and supporting female scientists and inventors, we have the power to improve women's health and well-being radically.

Reflecting on the words of Isabel Metz from the University of Melbourne:

"There is no scientific evidence that suggests women are in any way inferior to men. Not enabling women to fulfill their utmost potential is not only a personal loss but also a loss for organizations. I am very pragmatic."

Let us also adopt a pragmatic approach as we champion the upcoming cadre of women leaders.