Cranfield International Centre for Women Leaders Project revealed that business leadership amongst FTSE 100 firms is still male dominated, but that slight improvements are being made. It estimates that 11% of women held directorship in 2006, compared with 5.8% in 2000.
A report from Gauvurin entitled Women Executives in the UK shows that when women represent 30% of the board of directors, the profitability of a company increases three-fold.

Other research has shown that UK plc and the small business sector are losing out as a result of boards comprised purely of men
All this is encouraging but many would say that it’s not enough and now Norwegian law dictates that women must constitute at least 40% of non-executive boards at publicly listed companies over a certain size.
Legislation ensures positive discrimination but does this win over hearts and minds to create an environment of true equality, or does it merely engender a more defensive, divided culture?
Are you confident that talent and sheer hard-graft enough to ensure success or must there be a quota?