EquiLead Unveils Landmark Report “Unpacking Gender-Equitable Leadership in Organizations: Insights and Strategies”

EquiLead, an initiative supported by Climate Asia Inc. and Arthan Foundation, successfully launched its groundbreaking report, Unpacking Gender-Equitable Leadership in Organizations: Insights and Strategies, at an exclusive event. Senior leaders from The Rockefeller Foundation, PATH, Co-Impact, SAP, and Empower, among others, graced the event, underscoring the significance of the report’s findings.

The study, which surveyed 128 organisations in the social sector, sheds light on the current landscape of women in leadership and the systemic barriers that continue to hinder gender equity in organizational structures.

The report’s findings underscore a stark reality—while 91% of organisations claim to prioritise hiring and promoting women, only 31% have women in leadership roles, revealing a significant gap between intent and actual outcomes.

Additionally, 43% of organizations lack affirmative action policies for women and gender minorities, and 50% do not conduct any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training. These findings point to the critical need for sustained cultural and structural change beyond hiring practices to achieve institutional reforms.

Key discussions at the event focused on the tangible barriers women face in leadership, including entrenched gender stereotypes, the absence of mentorship programs, limited representation in decision-making roles, and practical workplace challenges such as a lack of after-hours travel support.

With 38% of organisations failing to provide safe transport options for women working late hours, the conversation highlighted how policy gaps translate into workplace inequities that limit career progression for women professionals.

Speaking about the report, Satyam Vyas, founding team of Equilead, remarked, “This report is a wake-up call for organisations that aspire to be truly inclusive. The data makes it clear that hiring women is not enough—organisations must proactively dismantle the structural barriers that hold women back and integrate gender equity into every level of their decision-making.”

Further, Anchal Kakkar, founding team of Equilead, said, “This study provides a snapshot of the work still left to be done in enabling inclusive workplaces in the impact ecosystem. While policies are essential, they can go only so far if the cultural and behavioural aspects are not worked upon. All workplaces should be inclusive- it is not only the right thing to do but essential to ensure a motivated workforce.”

A crucial takeaway from the report is the indispensable role of mentorship and networking in accelerating women’s leadership journeys. Panellists emphasised that structured mentorship programs, sponsorship initiatives, and community networks are essential in creating leadership pathways that empower women to overcome visibility and influence challenges in their respective fields.

EquiLead’s study offers a roadmap for change and empowers organisations to implement it. The recommendations from the report, including expanding diversity hiring, instituting mentorship programs, enabling cross-functional leadership development, and creating safe, inclusive spaces, are all within your reach. The study underlines that progress towards gender-equitable leadership is not just a possibility but a responsibility that can be achieved with a deliberate shift in policies, training efforts, and institutional intent.

The event concluded with a roundtable discussion on actionable strategies for gender-equitable leadership, paving the way for EquiLead’s upcoming Gender Accelerator Program, which will support organisations in embedding DEI practices into their operational frameworks.