As we approach International Women’s Day, let us acknowledge the achievements of women from all around the world at workplaces.

It is an encouraging fact that many organizations are prioritizing gender equality and pushing themselves harder to include more women in leadership.

A recent IMF staff research shows that women in the workforce and more senior positions are good for women, businesses and countries’ economies.

At the IMF –

• over 30% of staff in senior management are women

• 35% of department directors are women

According to McKinsey’s research, though women continue to be underrepresented at every level, more women can be seen at the top levels of companies during the last five years. Some of the bright spots in the workplace include –

• Representation of women at the C-suite – 24%

• Companies commitment to gender diversity - 13pp

• Senior leaders’ accountability - 18pp

• Sponsorship of women - 8pp

• Flexibility to work from home- 30pp

• Employees in dual-career couples - 8 pp

According to McKinsey’s research, an increasing number of companies are seeing the value of having more women in leadership, which is a significant step in the right direction.

Women in leadership are driven by two trends. Women are hired at the director level and they are getting promoted on average at a higher rate than men.

The economist has recently updated its glass-ceiling index, where Iceland tops the ranking. It ranks 29 countries on ten indicators of equality for women in the workplace. The indicators are educational attainment, labor-force participation, gender pay parity, child-care costs, maternity and paternity rights, business-school applications, and representation in senior jobs – women in leadership roles and management roles.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women officially outnumber men in workplaces across the US. The data reveals that women hold 50.04% of all available positions.

Whatever the numbers may suggest, true transformation occurs when there is a cultural shift. Companies should holistically consider gender discrimination and make all the changes possible to make workplaces friendlier to women. Workplaces should get customized and women must be given the environment and culture they need to succeed.