Progress toward gender parity in corporate leadership has stalled globally since 2022. Recent World Economic Forum research reveals that women hold just 24.6% of C-suite roles and accounted for only 21.1% of CEO hires in 2025. While systemic changes to hiring and leadership frameworks are critical, meaningful progress also requires direct, daily advocacy from leaders who hold power today.
Reflecting on Women’s Equality Day, Leanne Taylor, CEO of Syspro, emphasizes that equality can’t be treated as an annual initiative or a passive goal. Having spent more than 25 years in enterprise technology, often as one of the few women at executive tables, Taylor credits active sponsorship for altering her career trajectory.
