London Business School (institutional)

Do the Most Prestigious Roles Always Open More Doors?

A new study of FTSE 100 board members reveals that prestigious roles do not automatically translate into broader career opportunities, especially for women. Using longitudinal data on all directors of the UK’s largest companies, researchers found women are initially more likely than men to receive additional board appointments, reflecting strong gender‑diversity pressures. However, as a firm’s prominence rises, that advantage erodes and eventually reverses: men on high‑profile boards gain further appointments, while women become less likely to be tapped for new seats. The authors rule out simple explanations such as competence bias or availability constraints. Instead, they point to the heightened scrutiny, risk exposure, and informal demands that accompany highly visible board positions, which disproportionately burden female directors. The findings suggest that inequality at the top is shaped not only by who gets the coveted seats but also by how those seats function over time, prompting firms and policymakers to rethink support mechanisms for women in senior governance roles.