Where We Stand
Bangladesh has made real progress in women's participation in the corporate sector — in banking, in development, and increasingly in the C-suite. It is still not parity.
The Numbers
Women hold roughly a quarter of management-level roles in listed Bangladeshi companies and a much smaller share of board seats. The pipeline narrows sharply after the first promotion, not before it.
What Actually Blocks Progress
- Narrow networks: roles and deals are often known before they are advertised.
- Unpaid load at home: the second shift is real and rarely planned for.
- Confidence gap: applying at 70% readiness while peers apply at 50%.
The Power of Member Networks
Networks like the Management Club matter most at the first jump into a stretch role. A referral is often the difference between being considered and being invisible.