Only 13% of Board Presidents are women in SBF 120 companies and only 10% are General Managers within CAC 40 companies — even if France ranks #1 in the OECD for women on corporate boards, with 46% of board seats.
From the interviews of seasoned women CEOs McKinsey & Company (03/2026), main #management principles have emerged.
💼 Lead from purpose, not position. Decisions are made for the organisation, not to protect the seat.
💡 Authentic courage, over performative confidence. Admitting uncertainty in real time builds genuine trust. Leaders act on principles even when outcomes are uncertain.
🔗 Set clear collective objectives and governance, not driven by individual egos. By continuously strengthening how we work, we build trust, reduce friction, and drive sustainable performance together.
📈 Strength scales through coalition, not self-reliance. CEOs who endure build systems, ask for help early, and create teams that don’t depend on any one person. They create strong authority without identity entanglement.
⚖️ Make the role sustainable, with disciplined management of time and energy. Select your battles. Roles must fit within the context of familial lives and systems.
As a #CorporateCommunications professional, what strikes me: purpose-driven messaging, authentic trust and coalition-building — where learning and improvement are disciplines for me and my teams.
Inspirations: Herminia IbarraAvivah Wittenberg-CoxCarolyn Dewar
📊 Sources: McKinsey · « Staying in the game: How women CEOs build leadership that endures » · March 2026 | IFA/Ethics & Boards · Baromètre de la mixité · February 2026 | State of Women in Leadership 2026
