Unequal in the Spotlight: Why Top Boards Boost Men’s Careers More Than Women’s

Dr. Isabel Fernandez-Mateo, Adecco Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School, shares valuable insights from her acclaimed research, “Unequal in the Spotlight: Gender Differences in How Serving on Prominent Firms Affects Directors’ New Board Appointments.” Drawing on a rich dataset of FTSE 100 boards and in-depth interviews, this research uncovers a paradox at the very top of corporate leadership: while women are generally more likely than men to secure additional board appointments, this advantage disappears and even reverses on the most prominent boards, where visibility is highest and scrutiny is most intense. The study rules out standard explanations such as weaker competence signals or capacity constraints and instead points to hidden dynamics of prominence, including heavier informal demands, greater performance pressure, and a higher bar for women to be appointed in the first place. These findings suggest that prestigious board roles can function not only as powerful platforms but also as bottlenecks, highlighting the need for boards, headhunters, and policymakers to look beyond access and focus on how top positions shape future mobility and long-term career progression. This podcast is brought to you by Global Management Consultancy. For more information, please visit www.globalmanagementconsultancy.com. Disclaimer: A. The background music incorporated in this video is the intellectual property of its respective developer and is protected under applicable copyright laws. Notwithstanding that it is a free-to-use version, Business Talk, Global Management Consultancy, and Deepak Bhatt do not own, and expressly do not claim, any rights, title, or interest in or to this music. B. Dr. Isabel Fernandez-Mateo shared profound insights from her research, “Unequal in the Spotlight: Gender Differences in How Serving on Prominent Firms Affects Directors’ New Board Appointments”, during an engaging conversation on the Business Talk podcast channel. The uploaded video contains copyrighted content, so changing any graphics, music, or on-screen appearance of the author or host is not allowed.