National attention surrounding women’s rights has placed the corporate world at a critical juncture, challenging the domain to open the door for qualified diverse executives. This appeal is making an impact on the industry as the number of women entering private equity is on the rise. Falcon’s data shows that female applicants for private equity-backed executive positions is growing at a rate of 9.5% per quarter.
Private equity is seeing an increase in female fund managers and owners in addition to executives. In 2021, there was a 25% increase in funds majority owned by women and/or ethnic minorities. Often holding the title of Managing Director or Principal, fund managers are in a unique position to bolster or hinder diversity efforts both at the fund and portfolio executive levels. This increase in female fund managers and dealmakers is an important stride in furthering diversity within the corporate world. There are several clear justifications asserting the need for increased female leadership at the fund manager level.
Women in private equity consistently identify gender as a barrier to upward career mobility
In 2021, McKinsey’s Women in Private Equity Forum released a poll in which a jarring 54% of women stated that they believe their career trajectory was slowed or limited due to their gender. While this poll does not capture the opinions of every female private equity-backed executi...