Launching a new advisory board to stir the diversity pot in Danish Leadership

Diversity in leadership within Danish businesses has long been an issue, but a promising new initiative is set to change that. Therefore, we are excited to announce the formation of our new advisory board featuring some of Denmark’s most influential leaders.

Since our establishment in 2020, we have empowered over 5,000 young talents on their journeys toward leadership careers. Yet, the statistics remain stark: only 15% of CEOs in Denmark are women, and less than one in five board positions is held by females. Disturbingly, among the 50 largest firms, just two have female CEOs - one of whom is Danish. Clearly, there is a pressing need for change. With the launch of our advisory board, we are intensifying our efforts to drive diversity in Danish business.

The newly formed advisory board boasts prominent Danish business leaders, including Mette Kaagaard, CEO of Microsoft Denmark and Iceland; Brian Mikkelsen, Director of Dansk Erhverv; and Britta Korre Stenholt, CEO of Stark Denmark. With this board, the hope is to rethink the future of Danish leadership.

“As we launch this advisory board, we’ve established a vital strategic foundation that empowers us to grow and tackle the challenges ahead - particularly in engaging the younger generation,” says Maria Anker Andersen, co-founder of Female Leadership Academy. “By uniting top leaders with emerging talent, we commit to rethinking the future of leadership for the next generation to relate to.”

However, the challenge remains significant. Recent data from consulting firm Ballisager indicates that only 22% of Danish women aged 18-34 aspire to leadership roles. Women are also less likely than their male counterparts to receive their first promotion into management, and they are promoted to higher positions at significantly lower rates. Female Leadership Academy aims to address the issues by cultivating female role models, providing leadership tools, and building a trustful network for young women who aspire to lead.

Brian Mikkelsen emphasizes the importance of this initiative:

“We must dismantle the structures that have held women back from leadership roles for far too long. This isn’t merely about equality; it’s about establishing the best conditions for the future of our businesses and society. Through this advisory board, we will ensure that Female Leadership Academy receives the necessary resources and strategic insights to cultivate more female leaders and promote a more diverse leadership landscape in Danish business. Our objective is straightforward: we want to see greater diversity in boardrooms.”

Maria Anker Andersen adds,

“our mission is to empower young women to take the crucial first step into leadership, ensuring they have the tools and network to thrive. We want to guarantee that as the next generation of leaders emerges, there will be more women among them, benefiting both society and the business world.”

Members of the advisory board