Career Uncertainty Among High-Potential Women: Key Findings from the 2024 Annual Report
ATLANTA, Feb. 6, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Pathbuilders ‘Table Stakes’ 2024 Annual Report has unveiled a growing sense of career uncertainty among high-potential women. The prevalence of transactional relationships with leadership has resulted in a notable decline in proactive career planning, reaching its lowest point in a decade. This unsettling trend raises critical questions about the sacrifices associated with attaining executive roles and reflects a broader paradigm shift in how women perceive their career advancement and future prospects.
Changing Aspirations in a Challenging Business Environment
Data and insights from the report indicate a significant transformation in professional ambitions, particularly among female directors and VPs, who are on the cusp of the C-suite. While 70% of mid-level women express a desire for greater responsibilities, only 20% indicate a specific interest in C-suite positions. This suggests a reevaluation of aspirations influenced by the pressures of the contemporary business landscape.
Challenges Faced by Women Leaders
“Our work with high-performing individuals highlights trends that could shape the next decade for women in leadership,” stated Helene Lollis, CEO of Pathbuilders. “In 2024, we observed that committed people leaders are shouldering significant responsibilities within their organizations. These leaders, often resourceful and adept at seeking necessary support, are beginning to question the path ahead and explore alternative preparations for senior leadership roles.”
Manager-Level Leaders Struggling with Support
Findings reveal that manager-level leaders are operating largely without adequate organizational support; 57% report managing their own learning processes, while 79% face difficulties in delegation and prioritization. Furthermore, one-on-one interactions with their superiors tend to focus primarily on task management, overlooking discussions about long-term professional growth. This highlights an urgent need for organizations to rethink their talent development strategies.
Thematic Insights from the Report
While each organization has its own distinct challenges, Pathbuilders’ research across various sectors has identified four prevailing themes, illustrating the overarching context for business and the experiences of key female talent:
- Constant organizational change is now regarded as a norm rather than a disruption;
- AI adoption is reshaping job descriptions and conventional development paths, yet few leaders actively utilize these advancements;
- Conversations with leaders predominantly concentrate on short-term goals, neglecting discussions on future direction and strategic priorities;
- Mid-level women are adopting flexible lifestyles and reexamining their aspirations, weighing the trade-offs of demanding careers.
Building a Supportive Environment
“These themes present unprecedented challenges for organizations aiming to nurture and retain high-potential female leaders,” Lollis continued. “The significant takeaway from our findings is the opportunity for progressive organizations to prioritize personal connections between leaders and their teams. High potentials thrive when they receive customized feedback, opportunities for growth, and meaningful engagement.”
Actionable Solutions for Advancing Women Leaders
The Table Stakes Report offers not only data-driven insights from extensive interviews with hundreds of high-potential female managers and mid-level leaders but also practical solutions for C-suite executives to address shared challenges and enhance the retention and advancement of outstanding women leaders.
About the Table Stakes Report
The insights shared in Pathbuilders’ 2024 Annual Report are derived from comprehensive interviews with over 300 high-potential, high-performing women across more than 50 companies in the U.S., the UK, and Canada. The study encompasses a wide array of industries, roles, and company sizes, featuring participants from mid-level leadership positions (Directors and VPs), managers, and aspiring leaders. The sample includes 49% representing Fortune 500 organizations or their equivalents, 16% from Fortune 1000 or similar companies, along with women from high-growth public and private firms and governmental agencies. These findings were benchmarked against data from over 5,000 interviews conducted in previous years.
About Pathbuilders
Pathbuilders is committed to transforming top performers into impactful leaders. With over three decades of experience, our focus is on advancing women into leadership positions, ensuring that qualified women have a voice in pivotal decision-making environments, which is crucial for fostering resilient businesses that achieve exceptional results. We offer cross-company mentoring programs and tailored solutions designed to cultivate leadership that propels companies forward and enables meaningful organizational change.
Since 1995, Pathbuilders has effectively partnered with thousands of professionals from over 500 client organizations, including today’s leading Fortune 500 companies. For further information, please visit our website at pathbuilders.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
