Vietnamese women’s presence in senior management ranks second in Asia
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With 36 percent of senior management teams in Vietnam including women, the country ranks second in Asia in female representation. In Asia, Vietnam’s proportion of women in senior management positions is only below Philippines at 37.46 percent. It is higher than countries like Singapore at 33.04 percent, Indonesia 31.85 percent and South Korea 29.89 percent, according to a report released Thursday by Grant Thornton International.
Vietnam’s ration in this regard is also higher than the global average of 28 percent.
The top four roles of Vietnamese women in business are Chief Finance Officer (36 percent), Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director (30 percent), Human Resources Director and Chief Marketing Officer (25 percent).
“In Vietnam, women in business always play significant parts,” said Nguyen Thi Vinh Ha, national head of Advisory Services and deputy general director, Grant Thornton Vietnam.
“We are proud of having many influential and inspirational female in general and look forward to a generation of successors.”
However, Vietnamese women in senior positions still face many challenges, the report said.
It said 40 percent of Vietnamese women lack access to “developmental” work opportunities, higher than the global proportion at 27 percent.
Thirty-five percent lack access to networking opportunities, while the global rate is 26 percent.
They also have caring responsibilities outside of work, at 39 percent in Vietnam versus 25 percent in the world.
“If we want to continue seeing female representation trend upwards in senior positions, more deliberate action needs to be taken and leaders will play a critical role,” said Kenneth Atkinson, executive chairman of Grant Thornton Vietnam.
“Policies that address equal opportunity in career development, bias in recruitment and flexible working can’t just be a nice to have. To achieve meaningful progress, they must be adhered to, enforced and regularly revisited to assess their effectiveness.”
Questions & Answers
Q.What percentage of women hold senior management roles in Vietnam?
What percentage of women hold senior management roles in Vietnam?
Women account for 36 percent of senior management teams in Vietnam. This figure places Vietnam second in Asia for female representation in these roles, just below the Philippines.
Q.Which specific senior management roles do Vietnamese women most commonly occupy?
Which specific senior management roles do Vietnamese women most commonly occupy?
Vietnamese women are most commonly found in Chief Finance Officer roles at 36 percent. They also frequently hold positions as Chief Executive Officer or Managing Director (30 percent), Human Resources Director, and Chief Marketing Officer (both 25 percent).
Q.What are some significant challenges Vietnamese women in senior positions still face?
What are some significant challenges Vietnamese women in senior positions still face?
Challenges include 40 percent lacking access to developmental work opportunities and 35 percent lacking networking opportunities. Also, 39 percent face caring responsibilities outside of work, higher than the global rate.
Q.What actions are suggested to improve female representation in senior positions?
What actions are suggested to improve female representation in senior positions?
More deliberate action and critical leadership are needed. Policies addressing equal opportunity in career development, bias in recruitment, and flexible working must be adhered to, enforced, and regularly reviewed for effectiveness.
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