A few rare female founders and hardly more senior executives; in terms of gender equality, French start-ups perform less well than the CAC40. This is the conclusion of the BCG and Sista collective report. Led by the French Technology Mission, Clara Chapaz is working to change the situation.
18 percent. this is the female share of leadership positions in the top 40 French start-ups, according to a joint report (1) by the Boston Consulting Group and the Sista collective, which works to open doors and funds; entrepreneurship for women more broadly. Start-ups, these innovative companies whose successes are so widely celebrated, therefore prove to be less equal than the CAC40 companies. Why and, above all, how to fix it? Declassification with Clara Chapaz, director of Mission French Tech, a public body responsible for supporting the ecosystem.
Miss Figaro. – Did these numbers surprise you?
Clara Chapaz. – No, but they did not cheer me for all that… One of them was particularly surprising. 25% of the surveyed start-ups, i.e. one in four, do not have a female director. These companies are innovating to meet the major challenges of tomorrow. Excluding women from decision-making means losing performance and running the risk of introducing large biases. Fortunately, everything is not gloomy. other reports, including Sista, reflect positive dynamics, particularly regarding access to financing. However, cultural biases persist.
How to change the situation?
Acting on all links of the chain. This is the aim of the five commitments of the Parity Agreement launched by the French Technology Mission last June with 72 French Tech Next40/120 start-ups, joined by others. These are five specific commitments to create role models in startups, transform recruitment processes, train 100% of managers on diversity challenges, support every employee returning from parental leave, and reach 20% women on boards by 2025. then 40% until 2028.
Should we go further?
These commitments are necessary but insufficient. Fortunately, legislation is changing, like the 2021 Rixane Act, which mandates quotas for female executives on companies with more than 1,000 employees. Even if they’re not there, French tech entrepreneurs are clear. they don’t wait for the law. The ecosystem needs to get up to speed on the topic, it has the ability and the will to do so. I am optimistic. the next few years will show women that they have their place in French startups.
(1) “FrenchTech120. governing bodies are far from equal »A joint report by BCG and the Sista team was published in November 2022.
Source: Le Figaro
