Women at Top Management Levels in Emerging Markets between Obstacles and Repercussions: Evidence from Egyptian Corporations

Abstract

The study investigates reflections, obstacles, and repercussions of women's participation at top management levels in Egyptian Corporations. The study used the panel data method for sixty-six Egyptian corporations during the period 2018-2021 in addition to 395 employees of Egyptian corporations for the assessment of the current situation and obstacles of women empowerment at the top management levels. The study concluded, at the level of financial analysis, there is an impact of the role of women on the corporation's returns and risks. but according to the questionnaire analysis, that what has already been achieved in the field of economic empowerment of women still appears to be less than the capabilities of Egyptian women, which paves the way for further progress in this field. Although the organizational environment may seem like a possible environment for women, the organizational culture and the resulting misperceptions of women is the real challenge. Finally, the presence of women on boards is becoming increasingly important for corporations looking to remain competitive in today's business environment. Women bring unique perspectives and experiences that can benefit corporations in numerous ways, including increased creativity and innovation, better decision-making processes, improved risk management practices, greater customer satisfaction, improved corporate governance practices, and increased trust between shareholders and management.