The study of 2,300 executives and professionals identified three key reasons for the lack of prioritization: firms don’t see the financial value (despite evidence proving otherwise), men underestimate the extent of workplace gender bias and companies do not have a sense of urgency on the issue. (IBM)

Talking point: The firms that did lead in gender equality—identified in the study as “First Movers”—did so because they took a systematic approach to solving the issue. They set measurable goals to advance women in their workplaces and allocated budget and resources to do so. Another factor was creating a culture of inclusion: women tend to leave male-dominated fields like STEM due to continued discrimination. In Canada, organizations like the 30% Club and Catalyst are pushing companies to adopt goals and policies to put more women on boards and in executive roles.