Alexandra Cavoulacos

Gender Gap: Checking the Box or Moving the Needle?

Richard Ditizio, Christopher Ailman, Alexandra Cavoulacos, Lauren Leader-Chivée, Rosie Rios, Janet Thomas, Candida Wolff

Panelists and officials highlighted the persistent economic and social costs of gender inequality, citing data that gender-balanced leadership correlates with lower risk, higher performance, and significant GDP growth. While private sector initiatives like CalSTRS and Citi have successfully implemented accountability measures and diverse hiring practices, government agencies continue to lag due to fragmented policies and a lack of internal mentoring structures. The consensus among speakers is that advancing women in leadership requires men to act as active sponsors and companies to enforce measurable diversity targets rather than relying on vague aspirations.