McKinsey strips partner of leadership role over LinkedIn posts
Chris Bradley described the glass cliff phenomenon, in which female leaders are more likely to be offered top jobs at struggling companies, as ‘a very convenient way to always be a victim in the rain’.
McKinsey & Co. has terminated the leadership position of senior partner Chris Bradley within the firm's research division following his LinkedIn posts questioning the challenges faced by female executives. Bradley, a director at McKinsey Global Institute, remains a senior partner based in Australia. The decision stemmed from an internal review initiated by his online debate with an author of a book on the "glass cliff" phenomenon, which describes the tendency to promote female leaders to CEO roles during company downturns.
McKinsey distanced itself from Bradley's remarks, stating that they did not align with the firm's standards. The term "glass cliff" was coined by academics to describe the occurrence of women being appointed to CEO positions during crises. Bradley's deleted posts expressed skepticism about the existence of the concept. McKinsey has previously addressed workplace challenges for women through its "Women in the Workplace" study, conducted with Sheryl Sandberg's LeanIn organization.
The study reveals that women leaders encounter more resistance and have their judgments questioned more frequently than male counterparts. Despite these challenges, women CEOs of Russell 3000 companies have a shorter average tenure (6.2 years) compared to their male counterparts (8.9 years). As of the latest data, only one in ten S&P 500 companies is led by a female CEO.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- McKinsey strips partner of leadership role over LinkedIn posts straitstimes.com
