McKinsey Partners Unveil The Broken Rung Barrier Hindering Women's Career Advancement

Three senior partners at McKinsey, Kweilin Ellingrud, Lareina Yee, and María del Mar Martínez, have identified a significant barrier to women's career advancement in the workplace. They refer to this barrier as the "broken rung," a phenomenon that is even more pervasive than the glass ceiling in hindering women's progress. The term "broken rung" describes the initial hurdle women face when entering the workforce, where they are less likely to be promoted to managerial positions compared to their male counterparts. For every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women receive the same opportunity. This disparity sets the stage for a compounding effect throughout women's careers, making it difficult for them to catch up to their male peers.

The root cause of this issue, according to the McKinsey partners, lies in the unequal value derived from work experience. While education contributes to about half of a person's lifetime earnings, experience accounts for the other half. However, men tend to gain more value from their experience than women do. This imbalance is a critical factor in the "broken rung" phenomenon. The authors suggest that the solution to this problem lies in helping women build their "experience capital" to level the playing field and maximize their earning potential. Based on over a decade of research and conversations with more than 50 remarkable leaders, the authors provide strategies and stories of women who have successfully navigated this challenge by increasing their experience capital.

The book "The Broken Rung" by Ellingrud, Yee, and Martínez offers practical advice and inspiring stories to help women overcome this barrier. It emphasizes the importance of leaders and companies taking action to address structural gender inequalities in the workplace. However, the book also encourages individual women to take proactive steps to build their experience capital and advance their careers. The authors' own experiences as senior partners and as the first three consecutive chief diversity and inclusion officers for McKinsey provide valuable insights into the strategies that can help women succeed in their professional journeys.