Alpha Male and Alpha Female: Male Executives Speak on How to Increase Gender Diversity in Senior Management

What do international male business leaders have to say about gender diversity, the rise of talented women into management and the opportunities for the sexes to work together harmoniously in boardrooms - as well as the obstacles that stand in the way? When most people think manager, they think male. Boardrooms around the world are still dominated by ’alpha’ men and their assertive, decisive leadership styles. Meanwhile, their female counterparts, alpha women, remain underrepresented in almost every country. Many women feel they’ve been excluded and are calling for equality. This book offers a fresh perspective on gender roles that moves away from the old paradigm of male domination and female victimhood. It argues that companies that want to succeed need to productively combine and leverage off the strengths offered by men and women. It covers how mixed leadership teams can be made the norm in international companies. To find some answers, Bettina Al-Sadik-Lowinski interviewed senior male executives from eleven countries. These ’alpha men’ agree that women and their abilities should be better represented on company boards. They believe the current imbalance is due to a mix of talented women’s reluctance to pursue their career ambitions along with the barriers created by existing power structures. Male managers fear losing face and being shown up by strong women. They want recognition, rather than aggression, from their female colleagues. The interviewees also discuss what they see as women’s strengths, such as their positive, calming influence in male-dominated meetings, and comment on sensitive topics such as #MeToo and the influence of ’erotic capital’ and ’old boys’ networks’. The book presents the men’s views in their own words, complemented by alternative perspectives from top female executives. Al-Sadik-Lowinski’s analysis shows how both sexes can work together in international companies to build a brighter, sustainable future. Alpha Males and Alpha Females seeks to promote greater equality at senior levels in global companies, with mixed leadership teams made up of both qualified men and qualified women. It gives women who are interested in pursuing a management career an insight into men’s views, as well as advice on their personal career development. And it suggests strategies that executives can adopt to strengthen diversity, build mixed leadership teams and secure their companies’ long-term success.

Dr Bettina Al-Sadik-Lowinski is a management researcher, executive coach (MCC, ICF) and founder of the Global Women Career Lab initiative. In her previous publications, How Chinese Women Rise, Women in Top Management and Typology of Career Paths of International Top Women Managers, Al-Sadik-Lowinski has explored how female managers from around the world can rise to the highest positions. Her analysis and conclusions have been widely discussed in the international press. Thanks to her extensive experience working with international companies and coaching international business leaders, Al-Sadik-Lowinski has built up a network of senior executives across the globe. Many of these contacts have agreed to take part in confidential, in-depth interviews, in which they share insights into their mindsets and management principles. Al-Sadik-Lowinski teaches at several universities, has spoken at numerous international conferences and, along with her own coaching work, certifies other executive coaches.

In 2014, she founded the Global Women Career Lab, an international training and research initiative that delivers coaching and workshops designed to help more women move into senior management roles.