HONG KONG, March 22, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As the
shortage in the Asian executive talent pipeline continues to pose a
major business challenge for many multinational companies, a
majority of Asian women leaders at multinational corporations feel
trapped in regional roles, according to a new study by Heidrick
& Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of executive
search, leadership consulting and culture shaping worldwide.
The firm's study reminds leaders at headquarters to take notice
of Asian women leaders as an untapped resource for global roles,
said Steve Mullinjer, Regional Leader of Heidrick &
Struggles, Asia Pacific. "As
leadership advisors, we recognize the pressing imperatives for
companies to hire and promote the brightest and those with high
potential in order to stay competitive and outperform others,
regardless of their nationalities, age groups, gender and cultural
backgrounds," Mullinjer said. "Senior management or headquarters
need to embed such diversity of thinking in their organizations'
DNA to become truly diverse and inclusive organizations and drive
better value to their stakeholders."
According to the study, 90% of Asian female senior leaders
currently in regional roles in multinational companies with
headquarters outside Asia aspire
to be promoted to global roles. However, only 36% are at least
somewhat confident that they will be granted the opportunity. More
than half (54%) believe these barriers are a response to their
ethnic background, while nearly half (47%) feel that their gender
is the main obstacle. Meanwhile, a staggering 85% are considering
leaving their current companies in the next two years.
"Visionary corporations that recognize the increasing importance
of Asia to their business are
relocating their global headquarters to Asia. This move by a handful of companies
serves as a great opportunity for Asian female leaders to take on
global responsibilities without juggling time zone differences or
perceptions that they are below average performers just because of
the foreign accent they display during midnight conference calls.
This requires a shift in mentality for headquarters leaders and
must align with performance appraisal systems that indicate the
path to global roles," said Karen
Choy-Xavier, Partner of Heidrick & Struggles based
in Singapore.
From May to December 2016,
Heidrick & Struggles gathered findings from 138 female senior
Asian leaders in the region, who shared the challenges they
encounter and practices they adopt when taking the leap into a
global role. Among the other findings:
- 43% are unwilling to take up global roles which would demand
relocation, or participate in evening conference calls or other
tasks that take away from time spent with their family.
- 19% feel that it is not culturally acceptable for women to be
too ambitious, or that they would be regarded as culturally unfit
by their colleagues at headquarters in terms of their communication
styles.
- 13% feel that it is their non-native English accent and lack of
English language communication skills that hinder their
progression.
- 48% agreed that a major barrier is that headquarters' leaders
do not pay enough attention to developing Asian women.
- Only 4% cited lack of capabilities and skill sets as a
barrier.
"Although there has been a focus on subjects such as women on
boards and the development of the local female workforce, the
research by Heidrick & Struggles reveals the difficulties of
mid- to senior-level Asian female leaders who are limited to
regional roles. This is the biggest glass ceiling issue that our
successful female leaders are facing in this part of the world,"
noted Alain Deniau, Partner of
Heidrick & Struggles based in Hong Kong.
To gain greater clarity around issues raised in this study,
Heidrick & Struggles has launched a series of focus group
events in Singapore, India, Hong
Kong, Japan and
China, bringing together groups of
female leaders. The insights gathered from the focus group will be
consolidated in a Heidrick & Struggles APAC thought leadership
paper to be launched in later in 2017.
About Heidrick & Struggles
Heidrick &
Struggles (NASDAQ: HSII) serves the executive talent and leadership
needs of the world's top organizations as a premier provider of
leadership consulting, culture-shaping and senior-level executive
search services. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession
of executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, the firm serves
as a trusted advisor, providing integrated leadership solutions and
helping its clients change the world, one leadership team at a
time. www.heidrick.com
Media Contacts:
Karen
Lau - Marketing & Communications Manager, Asia Pacific
+852 2103 9329, klau@heidrick.com
Alex Brown - Public Relations
Manager, Americas
+1 312.496.1871, abrown@heidrick.com
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SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles