Women and Leadership

Women make up less than 10 per cent of national leaders. Behind this statistic lies a pattern of unequal access to power. In conversation with some of the world's most powerful and interesting women, Gillard and Okonjo-Iweala explore gender bias and ask why there aren't more women in leadership roles. Using current research as a starting point to form questions and hypotheses, the authors question the lived experience of women leaders such as Jacinda Ardern, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Bachelet and Theresa May. Speaking honestly and freely, they talk about having their ideas stolen by male colleagues, what it's like to be called fat or a slut in the media, and the things they wish they had done differently. Their stories reveal how gender and sexism affect perceptions of women as leaders, the trajectories of their leaderships, and the circumstances in which they come to an end. The result is a rare insight into life as a leader and a powerful call to arms for women everywhere.