111: Leading through the gap: Women, pay equity & the path to the
C-suite

Why has the gender pay gap stalled, and what does it take for women to break into leadership? In this episode of Comp & Coffee, Ruth Thomas sits down with Payscale’s Chief People Officer, Lexi Clarke, and Chief Customer Officer, Kate Peter, to explore the latest findings from the 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report. They discuss the challenges women face in leadership, the role of pay transparency, and what businesses can do to close the gap. Grab your coffee and join us for this important conversation!

Key Highlights
• Discussion of the persistent gender pay gap and the role of pay transparency in addressing this issue.
• Insights from Lexi and Kate on navigating leadership roles as women and overcoming challenges in male-dominated industries.
• Analysis of factors contributing to the stalling of pay gap improvements since 2022, with a focus on systemic issues and political influences.
• Examination of the motherhood penalty and its impact on women's career trajectories.
• The importance of having a "personal board of directors" and being authentic in leadership roles.

Quotes
• "I want to show her what strong looks like. I want to be messy in front of her and show her that you can lead authentically." – Kate Peter
• "You can't unsee the data once you have it, and then you want to act on it." – Ruth Thomas
• "Being authentic is my way of making sure I'm doing my best work." – Lexi Clarke

References
Payscale's 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report