Tackling barriers to female leadership in Welsh businesses

A new survey examining the barriers, ambitions, and lived experiences of future women leaders in Wales was launched today by the University of South Wales (USW) in partnership with CBI Cymru.

The Emerging Leaders 2025 survey is the next stage of research by USW’s Dr Lauren Thomas, Dr Shehla Khan and Dr Jayde Howard, who last year published the Unlocking Women’s Leadership Potential in Wales report into the barriers to women’s advancement into leadership roles in business.

Their report revealed a number of barriers to women succeeding in Welsh businesses, including a lack of access to flexible working, gender discrimination, and a shortage of affordable, good quality childcare.

The survey was launched during the Women in Wales: Emerging Leaders Conference, hosted by CBI Cymru at USW’s Cardiff Campus, which is part of the organisations’ collaborative work aimed at building more equitable and inclusive workplaces.

Today’s conference also saw the launch of the inaugural CBI-USW mentoring scheme, with mentees gaining the opportunity to work with business leaders who will support their potential advancement into leadership positions.

The CBI Wales’ Women’s Leadership Network and Working Group discussed the issues raised in the recent report through roundtables that aimed to tackle gender equality, and empowering women to realise their career ambitions and potential.

The event also saw a presentation by Dr Shehla Khan on breaking down the barriers to leadership, and a panel discussion on gender equity with representatives from USW, Barclays, Welsh Government, and Dŵr Cymru.

An online poll at today’s conference, which identified the main themes from the initial research, will be included in a CBI Wales white paper and will recommend further actions to empower women in the workplace.

Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: “Empowering women to reach their full potential in leadership roles is essential for building a stronger, more innovative Welsh economy. By investing in female talent today, we're securing a more prosperous and inclusive Wales for tomorrow. We’re committed to working alongside businesses to implement practical solutions that expand opportunities for women at all levels of leadership across Welsh industry."

Dr Lauren Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Marketing at USW, added: “Emerging Leaders across Wales are telling us they face structural barriers, limited mentorship, and persistent bias. By capturing those lived realities in detail, we can stop guessing and contribute towards the evidence base needed to shape policy and drive measurable change. I’m proud to be leading the team working on this survey at such a critical moment for women’s leadership in Wales.”

Katie Spackman, Deputy Director of CBI Wales, said: “CBI Wales is pleased to support the Women in Wales: Emerging Leaders Conference 2025 – an important step in our commitment to advancing gender equality in Welsh workplaces. With its focus on mentoring and the launch of a new survey, the conference offers a valuable opportunity to highlight the challenges women face and explore practical ways to support the next generation of leaders.

“We want to thank MEDR’s Civic Activity Fund, and the Learned Society of Wales, who made this conference possible; and to Dŵr Cymru, corporate champions of the CBI Wales Women in Leadership Network. We’re confident with this kind of support that the ideas and solutions shared at the conference and beyond, will help shape and drive real progress for women in leadership across Wales.”