The leadership trajectory of women: How COVID, Roe v. Wade, and other obstacles have brought new challenges to a longstanding struggle

Guest: Aparna Joshi, Arnold Family Professor of Management at the Penn State Smeal College of Business.

Women have historically been underrepresented in the C-suite. For years, fewer women have ascended to leadership positions because of the so-called broken rung at the first step of management. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many more women out of the workforce -- more than men – and the overturning of Roe v. Wade means more women are at risk of advancing in the workforce. A recent study by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company revealed that women leaders are leaving their companies at higher rates than ever before. And, the study indicated that for every woman at the director level who gets promoted, two women directors choose to leave their company.

Today, we’ll examine the leadership trajectory of women and how COVID, Roe v. Wade and other obstacles have brought new challenges to a longstanding struggle.