Articles

The Broken Corporate Rung For Women

By Fahad
March 26, 2025

In Brief

FAQs’

The “Broken Rung” is the significant barrier women face in getting their first promotion to a managerial position. According to McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women are encouraged, and for women of color, it’s even lower at 73. This initial disadvantage makes it harder for women to advance to higher leadership roles

Why Does It Happen?

Research suggests several reasons, including biases in promotion processes, lack of sponsorship, and women not getting the same opportunities to build experience. For example, men often get more value from their work experience, which can affect their visibility and chances for promotion.

How Can Women Overcome It?

Women can focus on building “experience capital,” which includes on-the-job skills, leadership abilities, networks, and credibility. Strategies include seeking new challenges, networking, continuous learning, finding mentors, and demonstrating impact. For instance, volunteering for high-visibility projects can help showcase capabilities.

This note provides a comprehensive exploration of the “Broken Rung” phenomenon and strategies for women to succeed in their careers, drawing from extensive research and insights. It aims to offer practical guidance for women navigating career advancement, particularly at the critical first promotion to manager.

Introduction to the Broken Rung

The “Broken Rung” is a term describing the significant barrier women face in getting promoted from entry-level positions to managerial roles. According to the 2024 Women in the Workplace report, for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women are encouraged, with even lower rates for women of color at 73.

This gap, identified in research by McKinsey and LeanIn.Org, has a lasting impact, making it harder for women to reach senior leadership positions. The report highlights that this issue is more pervasive than the traditional glass ceiling, affecting women early in their careers.

Historical data from 2018 to 2024 shows stagnation in promotion rates:

In 2018, 79 women were promoted for every 100 men, increasing slightly to 81 in 2024, with a peak at 87 in 2022 and 2023.
Racial disparities are notable: White women peaked at 94 in 2022 but dropped to 89 in 2024, while Black women saw a low of 54 in 2023-2024, underperforming overall except in 2022.

This phenomenon is not just a statistic; it reflects systemic and cultural issues, including biases and microaggressions, as noted in a Forbes article. Nearly half of women experience microaggressions that question their competence, further complicating their advancement.

The primary pain point is the disparity in promotion rates, which stems from several factors:

Biases in Promotion Processes: Sheryl Sandberg and Rachel Thomas from LeanIn.Org suggest that the lack of promotion for women is often due to unconscious bias, as seen in a TestGorilla blog.
Lack of Sponsorship: Women are less likely to have senior leaders advocating for them, a point emphasized in an Indiverse Company article, which recommends active sponsorship as a solution.
Limited Access to Experience Building: The book “The Broken Rung” by Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martinez, available at Amazon, argues that men get more value from their work experience, contributing to the gap. Women often miss out on high-visibility projects that build “experience capital” the knowledge, skills, and networks gained on the job.

This capital is crucial, as research from McKinsey’s human capital insights shows it accounts for half of an individual’s lifetime earnings, yet women face barriers in accumulating it.

To overcome the Broken Rung, women can focus on building their experience capital through the following strategies, drawn from the book and various studies:

1. Seek New Challenges:

Volunteer for projects outside your comfort zone to gain diverse skills. For example, taking on leadership roles in team projects can demonstrate readiness for management, as suggested in a Capital One leadership article.
Table 1 below outlines potential high-impact activities:

2. Build a Strong Network:

Connect with colleagues, mentors, and industry professionals through networking events and conferences. An X post highlights the importance of networks for career advancement.
Join women’s professional groups, such as those mentioned in a Medium article on female entrepreneurs, to gain support and visibility.

3. Continuous Learning:

Stay updated with industry trends and pursue certifications relevant to your field. For instance, UN Women’s economic empowerment insights emphasize the role of education in career growth.
Online courses or workshops can help, especially in technical fields, as noted in a McKinsey tech roles article.

4. Find Mentors and Sponsors:

Identify senior leaders who can guide and advocate for you. The book “The Broken Rung” includes stories of women who benefited from sponsorship, available at Barnes & Noble.
Seek feedback regularly to improve skills, as suggested in a SHRM article on career growth.

5. Demonstrate Impact:

Quantify your contributions and communicate achievements effectively. For example, share metrics on project success in performance reviews, as advised in a Forbes Council post.
Table 2 below shows examples of impact metrics:

Additional Considerations

Women should set clear career goals, negotiate for opportunities, and develop resilience to navigate setbacks. The 2024 Women in the Workplace report projects that achieving parity will take 48 years for all women, with White women reaching parity by 2046 and women of color by 2072, underscoring the urgency of these strategies.

Final Thoughts

By implementing these strategies, women can overcome the Broken Rung and advance in their careers. The journey requires proactive effort, but with the right approach, women can increase their potential and achieve leadership roles. For more resources, explore McKinsey’s diversity insights and join professional networks to stay connected.