With women holding the majority of power when it comes to consumer spending, it would be wise for companies to ensure the gender distribution on their boards and management teams equals the gender distribution of their customers.

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In each country, about 500 people were interviewed, balanced for age, gender, country of birth and geographic distribution in the host country.

ECONOMIST: European politics

But my personal opinion is that a better way would be for companies to analyze their customer base and then work to ensure their management teams and boards of directors are representative, gender-wise, of the distribution of their customer base.

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Gender equality will exist when both women and men are able to share equally in the distribution of power and knowledge, have equal opportunities, rights and obligations in terms of work or income generation, are given equal access to quality education, capacity building opportunities throughout life and in all domains, and the possibility to develop to their full potential.

UNESCO: International Women's Day 2009-Women Make the News