Sometimes, the solutions to our problems are so obvious that we fail to see them. One such problem I observe is when I sometimes have the opportunity to attend management meetings in local businesses in Pakistan. I instantly notice the absence or minimal representation of women.

Beyond the social and macro-economic implications that have been extensively discussed and debated in the media, yet remain unaddressed, my mind tells me that this trend is simply detrimental to business!

It is painfully bad because it is destroying value, and therefore the responsibility of business owners and shareholders to rectify.

We are long past the point where gender inclusion is a “nice to have” or a matter of corporate compliance driven diversity numbers. Today, it is a performance issue, a strategy issue, and increasingly a survival issue.

Women influence most household spending, from FMCG to healthcare to financial services. Yet product teams, sales, operations, marketing leadership, and strategy functions are overwhelmingly male.

When over 50% of their customers are women, not having women in positions of influence means the business is likely to never understand its customers!

The result? Products that miss the mark, campaigns that don’t resonate and revenues which never realize their potential.

When businesses keep their management teams male-only, they are not protecting tradition; they are limiting their own profitability! They are not being conservative; they are making themselves inefficient and uncompetitive.

And the best talent walks away. Younger professionals want modern workplaces. If a company feels outdated or exclusionary, people quietly choose other employers. Culture is a competitive advantage, and women are a big part of that.

I am not suggesting everyone go on a dramatic female hiring spree or appoint female leaders complete with social media photo ops and hashtag activism. That is not inclusion, it is theatre. And it creates its own problems.

What I am saying is much simpler. Give women equal opportunities to contribute meaningfully. Remove biased assumptions about what they “can” or “cannot” do. And do it because it creates long-term business value, not because it looks good on websites and annual reports!

As I said, the solution is simple if we want to see it.

Worth thinking about 🤔