Opinion. By James Lancaster.
In recent weeks, and consistently over the years, I have
heard industry professionals bemoaning the ‘lack of women in
leadership positions’ in the meetings and events industry. I have heard variously
that ‘most decision makers are men’, that ‘less than 20 per cent of leadership
positions are filled by women’ and that ‘there is a glass ceiling for women’.
But are any of these statements true?
Most of these assertions are based on various industry
surveys that show between 75-80 percent of event professionals are women - and
that between 16-23 percent of those women hold leadership positions. Meanwhile
around 30-32 percent of men in the industry are leaders.
So, you could certainly argue that men are ‘overrepresented’
in leadership positions in the meetings industry - but then you might have to
agree that women are ‘overrepresented’ in the industry in general, if there are cultural barriers preventing men from entering the profession.
One interesting point is that women, while dominating the
events industry, appear to be underrepresented at leadership level compared to
the wider economy, where around a third of women hold leadership roles. That’s
fascinating - and it’s worth investigating why.
But none of this alters the fact that, according to the data we have, the majority of leaders in the events industry are women - a quick
calculation suggests around two-thirds. So, why do people think men ‘dominate’
leadership roles in the meetings and events industry?
I’m not entirely sure. Some people will be projecting their
personal experience onto the industry as a whole, no doubt. Maybe others are simply
repeating what they’ve heard. But I suspect a rather more mundane factor is
coming into play – a lot of us are just not that great at maths.
It should be clear that ‘20 per cent of women hold
leadership positions’ is not the same as ‘20 per cent of leadership positions
are held by women’, yet there seems to be some confusion.
None of this is to downplay the challenges women face when
it comes to progressing their careers. If you’re a man in the industry you are
more likely to have a leadership position than a woman. And while the
statistics of small numbers might be skewing that a little, it probably reflects
a wider societal issue around childcare and the role of primary caregivers.
Nevertheless ‘meetings and events’ is that rare thing – a
field seemingly dominated by women at every level of seniority. From venues to DMOs,
industry associations to PCOs – everywhere you look women are occupying leadership
roles, shaping the course and direction of this sector.
There is a conversation to be had here - and we need more
research, qualitative and quantitative, to get a clearer picture of what’s going on - but for a serious
conversation we need to get the numbers, and facts, straight. I didn't just pluck those statements out of thin air by the way. I've seen them in blogs, conference programmes, and heard them from event association leaders too often to count.
But this is not about scoring points, or proving a point. It's just an appeal for some clarity.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
