Less than half of women professionals confident of success in global business environment: Accenture

08 March 2008

Just 43 per cent women professionals feel well equipped to compete in the business economy of the future, says a report issued today by Accenture to mark International Women's Day.

The report, One Step Ahead of 2011: A New Horizon for Working Women, is based on a survey of more than 4,000 male and female business professionals in 17 countries across Europe, Asia, North America and South America. 

According to the findings, women in several key emerging markets believe they are better equipped to succeed than do their female counterparts in many developed markets. 

Specifically, the majority of businesswomen - 68 per cent women professionals in India, 63 per cent in South Africa, 61 per cent in China and 52 per cent in Brazil said that they feel equipped to succeed in the global world of 2011.

"As we look toward 2011, both men and women will have to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the multi-polar world, in which emerging-market economies are competing with the collective dominance of the United States, Europe and Japan," said Armelle Carminati-Rabasse, managing director, human capital and diversity at Accenture. 

"In this increasingly competitive landscape, companies have a mandate not only to adapt their business models, but also to equip each of their employees with a wide array of skills - many of which have not yet been demanded of executives," Carminati-Rabasse added.