The Promise of Future Leadership: A Research Program on Highly Talented Employees in the Pipeline

2009 – 2015

Catalyst’s longitudinal project, The Promise of Future Leadership: A Research Program on Highly Talented Employees in the Pipeline, followed the careers of graduates of leading business schools in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. The series included timely reports on the recruitment, development, advancement, and retention of these so-called high-potential women and men. This global research study discredited a number of prevalent myths that suggested the gender gap in corporate leadership exists and persists largely because of women’s choices and actions. Our findings pointed to the value of addressing the biases inherent in the system, rather than fixing the individuals within it.