Elevating Women in Health Care—All the Way to CEO

In the health care industry, women have achieved gender parity at nearly all levels—except CEO. What can be done to break the glass ceiling?

• Our research on four health care sectors—payers, providers, pharma, and medtech—indicates that women occupy nearly 50% of entry-level, managerial, and executive roles.
• However, only about 15% of CEOs are women.
• Drawing on our analysis and on candid interviews with women leaders in health care, we highlight five high-priority actions that can help more women reach the CEO level.

It is well known that gender diversity in leadership drives better financial outcomes, improves patient care, and leads to more innovation. In the health care industry, women have reached parity at nearly...