In Greece, the percentage of women in senior management marked a significant increase of 9 percentage points in 2023, to 37% compared to 28% in 2022, reaching the highest level ever recorded, since the “Women in Business” survey was first undertaken in 2004. At the same time, the percentage of businesses with no women in senior management fell sharply to 11% from 22% last year, the second lowest level since the survey began.
The proportion of female Partners jumped to 25% in 2023, compared to only 5% in 2022, while the respective percentage on a global level stood at 8%. However, the proportion of female Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Managing Directors (MD) fell to 14%, compared to 16% the previous year, while the proportion of female Chief Finance Officers (CFO) also fell by two percentage points, to 34% from 36% in 2022. The proportion of women holding HR Director positions rose to 24%, compared to 21% the previous year, while the percentage of women in Chief Information Officer (CIO) positions increased by 3 percentage points, to 7%.
Greek businesses report that the top actions they have taken to ensure employee engagement and inclusion in the past 12 months are: creating an environment where all colleagues can ‘speak up’ with ideas, issues and questions (37.3%), adapt existing learning and development programmes to the changing environment (28.4%), promoting work/life balance and/or flexibility for employees (27.5%) and monitoring employees’ mental health and/or wellbeing (27.5%).
In view of the above data, Katerina Koulouri, Partner, Head of People Experience & Culture of Grant Thornton Greece states:
"The changing Greek legislative framework has opened doors to some of those roles which have previously been occupied by men. Hybrid working has also had an impact, as it has ensured less bias in recruiting for these roles. While hybrid working certainly gives an opportunity for more balance between work and home life, and can bring the best of both worlds, it’s essential for women’s progression that the two elements don’t become blurred".
For her side, Alexandra Baltouka, Partner, Head of Marketing & Client Experience of Grant Thornton in Greece underlines:
"This day is not only about women. It is about everyone who feels alone, floating between boundaries, without a strong voice, but with a bold heart and light in their soul. It is our purpose to contribute to a meaningful tomorrow without stereotypes and exclusions, in a vibrant society with love and solidarity at its core. Businesses now increasingly realize that equal representation and respect for diversity in the workplace is a necessary step towards the formation of a society which embraces the uniqueness of each individual. It is our responsibility to create and sustain an environment where everyone can openly express their ideas, has access to equal opportunities and, above all, feels free to be themselves. Despite the remarkable progress that has been made in recent years, it is important to ensure that we remain on this steady upward path towards equality".
