Gender Initiative

Our latest research on diversity and inclusion.

The INSEAD Gender Initiative produces and promotes cutting-edge social science research to transform practice and policy.

Its goal is to challenge tired assumptions and to provide evidence-based practical insights for current and future leaders looking to advance diversity and inclusion in their organisations.

Our latest research on diversity and inclusion.

Leadership & Organisations

Can More Women Leaders Be Both Liked and Effective?

Asher Lawson

How women leaders communicate in a crisis – including whether they use gender-stereotypical language – can either support or undermine their position of power.

Career & Development

The Workplace Dynamic Holding Women Back

H. Gueth, N. Bastoli, W. Jiang

Why queen bee syndrome emerges and what leaders and organisations can do to prevent it.

Couple on tandem bike facing away from each other

Responsibility

The Curse of Success

Kaisa Snellman

What equality reports don't tell us: why career success still threatens women’s relationships.

surreal collage of business people with geometric shapes for heads discussing together

Responsibility

Diversity in the Workplace: An Unexpected Side-Effect

Asher Lawson

High-performing women and racial minorities who defy stereotypes may inflate diversity perceptions in organisations – which can undermine support for their groups.

Responsibility

Rethinking Organisational Well-Being

D. Pollenne, K. Snellman, E. Li

How can we design organisations in which employee well-being forms the basis for – rather than a trade-off against – performance?

abstract image of a hand holding sushi with chopsticks

Entrepreneurship

The Authenticity Paradox for Minority Founders

K. Snellman, D. Pollene, T. Eng, A. Zhou

Staying true to your roots can help your brand stand out – but is that always a good thing?

man standing on taller triangle than a woman

Responsibility

Are Men’s Ideas Valued More Than Women’s?

M. Bikard, R. Mogra, I. Fernandez-Mateo

Even with strong incentives to leverage the most promising ideas, inventors may be overlooking research by women in favour of work by men.

Responsibility

Connecting Across Disconnections

K. Snellman, D. Pollenne

Amid recent pushback, maintaining robust diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives will require a coordinated, comprehensive approach.

Career & Development

Why Not Enough Women Are Senior Leaders

A. Roulet, A. Lawson

True parity in the workplace is still a distant goal. INSEAD faculty outline why women aren’t advancing and the role gender stereotypes play.

Responsibility

Bringing DEI into the Core of Our Institutions

M. Akinola, Z. Kinias, M. Norton, B. Kessler

Implementing DEI concepts effectively in business-school classrooms requires support from both institutions and the wider community.

Responsibility

The Impact of Investor Gender on Female Founders

K. Snellman, I. Solal

Female-led start-ups backed only by female venture capitalists have a harder time raising follow-on capital.

Economics & Finance

How the Daily Commute Affects the Gender Wage Gap

A. Roulet, T. Le Barbanchon, R. Barthelot

Women’s aversion for commuting motivates them to look for closer and not-so-well paid jobs compared to men.

Leadership & Organisations

Enabling Productive Thinking to Develop Gender Balance

Zoe Kinias

Subtle mental shifts can increase people’s responsiveness to the gender gap, and their commitment to doing something about it.

Responsibility

Integrating Diversity Into Business Education

Z. Kinias, M. Akinola, A. Carter, M. Norton, K. Phillips

Conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion can be uncomfortable. But business school classrooms need to embrace them nonetheless.

Leadership & Organisations

Building Gender Balance Against the Odds

B. Kessler, C. Cortland, Z. Kinias

To enable women’s advancement where it’s needed most, individual, interpersonal and institutional changes are required.

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