In today’s world, women are stepping into leadership roles at historic rates, yet systemic barriers remain. According to McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women are promoted, and the gap is even wider for women of color. Progress has been steady over the last decade, but at the current rate, gender parity in senior leadership is still decades away. The irony is that women now make up nearly half the global workforce, yet their representation at the top continues to lag.

One often overlooked accelerator for leadership advancement is financial confidence. Research consistently shows that women who gain control over financial decisions are significantly more likely to step into leadership roles at work and in their communities. The OECD’s gender equality in education, employment, and entrepreneurship report reinforces this: women who demonstrate financial acumen not only strengthen their own security but also contribute to stronger business outcomes. Financial literacy, then, is not just a personal skill. It is a leadership pipeline issue.

Read more at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alainhunkins/2025/09/16/the-hidden-link-between-financial-literacy-and-womens-leadership/