Exploring Gender Bias in Art and Corporate Leadership

In this episode, Dr. Medo Pournader talks with Dr. Marina Gertsberg, Assistant Professor in Finance at the University of Melbourne. Marina delves into her research on gender bias, focusing on the role of gatekeepers in both the art market and corporate boardrooms.Marina’s journey in academia took her from her upbringing in Germany to the bustling cities of the US and Australia. She shares how her experience analysing art auction data highlighted a stark underrepresentation of female artists, despite their works often fetching higher prices than their male counterparts. This led her to investigate the broader implications of gatekeeper influence on gender representation.Marina also discusses her research on gender quotas in corporate boards, particularly the California mandate requiring at least one female director on publicly listed companies' boards. She highlights how these policies are often misunderstood and explores the nuanced ways in which they impact corporate dynamics.Marina's current projects include examining the effects of the #MeToo movement on collaborations within academic circles, particularly between junior female and senior male economists. She offers insights into the unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies and the importance of transparency and accountability in combating gender bias.The +1 Podcast is produced by the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Business and Economics and Melbourne Business School Joint Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. The Committee can be contacted via [email protected]: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speakers’ own and may not represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of the University of Melbourne or the Melbourne Business School. The material and information presented here is intended for general information purposes only. Marina Gertsberg, Assistant Professor in Finance at the University of Melbourne, explores gender bias in the art market and corporate boardrooms, delving into how policies like California’s gender quota affect board compositions and corporate governance.