From Aspiration to Action: Women's Leadership Pathways in Wales

This report examines women’s leadership pathways in Wales, exploring how professional women experience, access, and progress into senior roles. Drawing on survey data from 249 respondents across sectors, it finds that women’s ambition and readiness for leadership remain high, yet opportunities decline mid-career. Structural and cultural barriers, including limited flexibility, exclusion of part-time workers, and poor visibility of role models, restrict advancement. Eighty-three per cent fear burnout, and 72% say flexible workers are overlooked. Only 10% currently access mentoring, despite its proven role in building confidence and progression. The report identifies three priorities: make leadership sustainable, expand inclusive mentoring, and remove invisible barriers, creating leadership systems in Wales that are equitable, resilient, and future-ready.