In a bid to encourage diversity and more women in management and leadership positions, the EC will consider introducing gender quotas if imbalances on executive boards are not addressed within a year. Just one option on the table for Viviane Reding as she considers the statistics – 89% of board members and 97% of CEOs in Europe are men. At the same time a recent report from Brussels shows that having women at the top helps company profitability.

Meanwhile in a blow to diversity and women in management, the MediaGuardian 100 are still predominantly white blokes….

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2010/jul/16/mediaguardian-100-white-blokes

And the endless debate about whether it’s nature or nurture that explains why men and women behave in different ways goes on with another piece in the Observer:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/15/girls-boys-think-same-way

At least everyone agrees there is a difference! I’m always amazed at how adamant proponents of a particular side of the debate are that they are completely right and the other side are completely wrong. Is it possible that both sides are partly right? For the record I believe it’s nature, nurture and something more!

The more interesting thing for me is what you do about it – how do you support diversity so that women who want to be helicopter pilots, and have the ability, can fly away without prejudice? Or that men who like nothing better than a day spent baking cakes with the kids can do so without ridicule?