Margaret Thatcher once said : - "If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman".

In today’s times I feel that focus, stability of mind, adaptability, perception and presentation are key factors for companies to succeed in a global knowledge economy. Leadership in all corporate houses plays a key role in the output and outcome of any business. In all spheres, I believe that women leadership in corporates lends the desirable crucial edge to business houses across the world. With regard to focus and stability, studies suggest women serving their jobs for longer periods of time thereby, growing with the organisation and living to be a part of it. Their eagerness to learn coupled with adaptability intrinsic to the psyche of women spell huge advantages for organizations in an uncertain unpredictable corporate environment. Given the uncertain environment of businesses, financial markets and corporate houses today I hence feel in a big way, women leadership is the answer to future corporate challenges.

Although women are increasingly making their mark in the typically male dominated workplace, they comprise only two per cent of the managerial workforce in India.

While the current workforce demographics indicate that nearly 50 per cent of the working population will comprise of women, very few jobs in the market would be gender specific in the near future.

A survey conducted by the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia found that close to 40 per cent of chief executives considered advancement of women in the workplace to be critical.

This was reflected in the fact that three out of every 10 Indian women executives leave organisations because of a perceived lack of intellectual stimulation while the rest feel that they have to work much harder to prove their worth.

HR managers and strategists need to develop a clear understanding of the work related issues of women, like retention and career growth opportunities. Conscious effort has to be made in changing the typical male dominated mindset. The increasing war for talented professionals added to the retention woes of corporates are forcing organisations to recognise more women in the workforce.

What needs to be done alongside is to create more jobs for women at the entry level and then provide career growth options in order to groom them for greater responsibilities. The young generation of women is more independent; career minded and challenge seeking as compared to earlier generations.

It is about time that corporates rose to the challenge and created more jobs for them. At the same time, it is up to women to break away from stereotyped mindsets.

The need of the hour is for women and corporates to see the potential in the other.

On the one hand, it is up to the women to make the right career choices and break away from stereotyped mindsets and on the other hand, it is up to the corporates to aid them achieve it by creating more jobs for them and providing career development opportunities within the organisation.