03/27/2024

Why the Glass Cliff Persists

Diversity and inclusion still create challenges in today's workplace

It has been nearly 20 years since the term "glass cliff" was coined; it refers to the tendency for women to break through the glass ceiling to top management roles only when there is a big crisis to overcome, which makes it more difficult for them to succeed.

In short, senior female leaders are often set up to fail — and this continues to happen today, as recent examples from business, politics and academia show. Sophie Williams, a former C-suite advertising executive and global leader at Netflix, has researched why the glass cliff remains a problem and offers advice for women facing them — as well as lessons for the broader corporate world.

Williams is the author of the book The Glass Cliff: Why Women in Power Are Undermined – and How to Fight Back.

Please select this link to read the complete article and audio from Harvard Business Review.