Leadership Development Gap Persists as Brandon Hall Group Highlights Women in Leadership Challenges

Event summary

  • Brandon Hall Group released the 2026 ‘Women in Leadership’ magazine, ‘Shaping Tomorrow,’ based on insights from their Women in Leadership Summit.
  • Only 28% of organizations are deemed ‘highly effective’ in developing women for senior leadership roles, according to Brandon Hall Group data.
  • The group will host a two-day leadership summit on November 17-18, 2026, at the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, expanding the format to include leadership development and a focused women in leadership session.
  • The magazine features perspectives from leaders at Pfizer, Bank of America, Verizon, Johnson & Johnson, and Weatherby Healthcare.

The big picture

Brandon Hall Group's findings underscore a persistent challenge for many organizations: translating diversity and inclusion initiatives into meaningful leadership representation. The data suggests that while awareness of the issue is high, concrete action and measurable progress remain elusive. This highlights a broader trend of performative allyship versus genuine systemic change within corporate governance and HR practices, particularly as the demand for specialized skills in areas like AI intensifies.

What we're watching

Execution Risk
The stated intention to expand the summit format will need to translate into tangible improvements in leadership development outcomes, given the persistent low effectiveness rates highlighted in the magazine.
Market Dynamics
The continued emphasis on AI leadership suggests a growing need for specialized skills, and the ability of organizations to integrate women into these emerging roles will be a key differentiator.
Governance Dynamics
The relatively low percentage of women in senior leadership positions (under 14%) indicates a potential governance blind spot that may require more aggressive targets and accountability measures to address.

Related topics

Workplace Culture