Behavioral Grooves Podcast Want to Close the Gender Gap? Start Here | Kweilin Ellingrud
Apr 21, 2025
In a compelling conversation, Kweilin Ellingrud, McKinsey’s Global Chief of Diversity and Inclusion and co-author of 'The Broken Rung', discusses the crucial 'broken rung' concept that impacts women's career progress. She offers insights on building 'experience capital' and the power of soft skills in breaking through initial barriers. Kweilin emphasizes the need for intentional networking and shares strategies for overcoming biases. Additionally, she highlights the importance of balancing personal health with career ambitions, advocating for overall well-being in professional growth.
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Understanding the Broken Rung
- The "broken rung" is the missed first promotion from contributor to manager that limits women's career growth.
- For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women are promoted, with even lower rates for women of color.
Build Experience Capital Early
- Women should build "experience capital" which significantly impacts lifetime earnings.
- They must focus on gaining diverse job experiences to accumulate this valuable career asset early on.
Staff vs. Line Roles Impact
- Women often hold more staff roles like HR and legal which are less likely to lead to CEO positions.
- Leadership in line roles controlling major P&Ls is critical for career advancement to CEO.
