WHAT are the criteria for a woman to become a CEO?
In a world that moves so fast, if thousands of men can become CEOs, why can't at least one woman out of every hundred men achieve the same? If a woman can fulfill the same task just as well, if not better, why is she not given the opportunity to become a CEO?
Let me share one of my experiences where a female bank branch manager outperformed her male counterparts.
Here’s the story.
As a newly joined staff member serving customers with the bank’s products and services, I had the opportunity to work under three different branch managers. The first was a very polite, educated man who left no room for audit observations. Despite his meticulous nature, the management decided to move him out of the branch. Can you guess why? Because he was not business, marketing, sales, and profit oriented. Simply put, he was not innovative.
The second branch manager was appointed to increase sales and profitability. He put all his efforts into the bank branch business, used his entire network to attract new customers, and excelled in marketing. He achieved and exceeded business targets, but again, the management decided to move him out. Why? Because he was not compliance-oriented, leading to numerous high-risk audit observations.
Then came the third branch manager, a woman. She started by identifying the mistakes of her predecessors and worked diligently with the team to rectify all audit observations and errors, which took her two weeks. Afterward, she focused on business and marketing.
To attract customers, she placed a red flower with chocolates near the entrance — something new for traditional customers. This simple yet innovative gesture brought noticeable changes.
During her tenure, the branch consistently met targets, ranked number one in customer service, and achieved high employee satisfaction.
This experience raises an important question: why do some men believe that women cannot perform better in leadership roles? In today's world, leadership is not about physical strength but about strategy and a creative mindset. Why do men continue to dominate leadership positions in the corporate world?
According to research, women hold about 15 per cent of CEO positions in Fortune 500 companies, marking a gradual increase over the years. In March 2023, there were 74 female CEOs in the Fortune 500, compared to only 7 in 2002 (World Economic Forum).
This number has further grown, with women now leading over 10 per cent of Fortune 500 companies (Women Business Collaborative). Despite these gains, the vast majority of CEO positions remain occupied by men. The broader corporate landscape reflects similar trends, with men dominating leadership roles globally.
The notion that women cannot lead organisations as effectively as men is outdated and unsupported by evidence. What about other leadership roles in organisations where some might still believe a woman cannot excel, such as Chief Risk Officer, Chief Internal Auditor, Chief Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Digital Officer, Chief Regulatory Officer, and Chief Retail Banking Officer?
The question is not about capability but about opportunity and breaking down the persistent barriers that prevent women from reaching the top.
For organisations to thrive in the modern world, they must recognise and embrace the potential of female leaders. Women should be encouraged to dream big and pursue their career goals without being hindered by gender biases.
At the same time, men should move away from the mindset of commanding and undermining women, acknowledging that leadership is not about gender but about skill and vision.
If a weak man can become a CEO, there is no reason a strong woman cannot achieve the same. It is time for the corporate world to catch up with the reality of women's capabilities and provide them with the opportunities they rightfully deserve.
By doing so, we can ensure a more diverse, inclusive, and successful future for businesses worldwide.
Mohammed Anwar Al Balushi
The writer is an academic lecturer and advisor,
Oman College of Management and Technoloy
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