Skyrocketing Women's Representation in German Corporate Leadership: A Decade of Progress
Supervisory board gender representation significantly increased by women over the past decade - Supervisory board representation for women has more than doubled within a decade.
Let's dive into the dynamic world of corporate leadership in Germany, where women's representation has experienced a remarkable leap in the past decade.
- 🎉 The Evolution of Women in Corporate Boards: The number of women in supervisory and management boards of large German companies has hit an all-time high, as revealed by the analysis of the organization "Women in Supervisory Boards" (Fidar) ten years since the initial Leadership Positions Act was enacted on May 1, 2015. This act imposed a fixed quota for supervisory boards in certain companies.
As of April 2025, the share of women in private companies' supervisory boards has nearly doubled from 19.9% to 37.5%, while public companies have seen a similar jump, with women representing 38.9%, compared to the initial 24.1% in 2015.
In the realm of management boards, the women's share has risen significantly, from 5% to 20.2% in stock corporations, and more than doubled to 31% in public companies (2015: 13.1%).
- 🏆 Fidar's "Woman on Board-Index": This index covers 160 corporations from the Dax, MDAX, and SDAX stock market indices, as well as 19 other listed and co-determination companies. The "Public Women-on-Board-Index" examines 261 public companies, with the evaluations provided to the German Press Agency in advance.
- 🎖️ A Victorious Victory for Federal Minister Paus: Federal Minister for Women, Lisa Paus (Greens), deems the Leadership Positions Act a success. She mentions that the initiative has played a significant role in significantly increasing the proportion of women in top committees of the German economy, with the targeted 30% in the supervisory boards of around 100 large German companies now achieved.
- 🛑 Fidar's Criticism: Fidar President, Anja Seng, criticizes the slow pace of progress before the implementation of the quota, stating that without legal pressure, there was virtually no progress. She emphasizes the need to maintain pressure to achieve long-term balance in management bodies.
- The evolution of women in corporate boards in Germany, as analyzed by Fidar ten years after the Leadership Positions Act was enacted, shows an unprecedented increase in the number of women in supervisory and management boards of large companies.
- In private companies, the share of women in supervisory boards has almost doubled, while public companies have witnessed a similar jump, with women representing a larger proportion compared to the initial figures in 2015.
- In the realm of management boards, the proportion of women has significantly risen, particularly in stock corporations and public companies, where the women's share has more than doubled since 2015.
- Fidar's "Woman on Board-Index" covers a wide range of companies from the Dax, MDAX, SDAX stock market indices, as well as other listed and co-determination companies.
- The "Public Women-on-Board-Index" evaluates the proportion of women in 261 public companies, with the findings provided to the German Press Agency ahead of time.
- Federal Minister for Women, Lisa Paus, has deemed the Leadership Positions Act a success, citing its significant role in increasing the proportion of women in top committees of the German economy.
- Fidar President, Anja Seng, has criticized the slow progress before the implementation of the quota, emphasizing the need to maintain pressure to achieve long-term balance in management bodies, citing virtually no progress without legal pressure.
