THE ANNUAL ROSENZWEIG REPORT -- PROMOTING GENDER DIVERSITY AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF LEADERSHIP
“Obtaining dignity, respect and advancement for women is not just a woman's issue, it’s a human rights issue. It requires including men and welcoming their help to change behaviour and perceptions. Jay Rosenzweig, through The Rosenzweig Report and his support for the #MeToo movement, shows that men can be important and effective allies and advocates for real change.”
Alyssa Milano Actor, Producer, Designer, Mother, Activist
2024 Rosenzweig Report
This year’s annual Rosenzweig Report – our 19th – once again marks advancement for women in corporate Canada. This year’s statistics indicate that female participation in Named Executive Officer (NEO) roles at Canada’s 100 largest publicly traded corporations stands at 11.90%, an all-time high and up from last year’s previous high of 10.90%.
“To close the gender gap, we need to understand it. The Rosenzweig Report shines a light on the problem of too few women leaders in corporate Canada. Business leaders should use this data to push for change. Hiring and promoting talented women isn’t just the right thing to do. It’s a core business imperative.”
Sheryl Sandberg Founder of Leanin.org & Option B, Former COO of Meta (Facebook)
“Building a better future means making sure that every citizen can lead, contribute, and prosper. And that includes all women. It’s giving women more choices in the workforce, closing the gender wage gap, and reaffirming our collective commitment to women’s leadership – from public offices to corporate boardrooms to university and college campuses. As women’s rights come under attack, we need to do even more to empower and celebrate the voices of women, and especially diverse women. Because when women and girls succeed, we all do.”
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
2023 Rosenzweig Report
This year’s Rosenzweig Report – our 18th – marks advancement for women in corporate Canada. For the first time, women hold more than 10 percent of the country’s top corporate positions. While this number may still seem disturbingly low – which it is – it nonetheless represents a milestone.
“The Rosenzweig report shows us in stark terms how much has been achieved on the path to lasting gender equality and at the same time how much work is still to be done. We know that if women aren’t safe they can’t progress.
This year, Canada’s historic Action Plan to End Gender-based violence was supported by provinces and territories. This means financial support to grassroots organizations that help women fleeing violence not only leave but build back their lives.
We have continued to invest in women entrepreneurs because we know small business is the backbone of our economy.
We passed groundbreaking childcare legislation so women don’t have to choose between family and a career.
We introduced a National Pharmacare plan that will make contraception free for all women.
These are more than just programs; they are systemic changes that will benefit women and girls for generations. Thanks to Jay and his team for their fervent advocacy and support to build a better and more inclusive Canada.”
The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women & Gender Equality & Youth
“Winning companies are fueled by strong and healthy diversity of thought, which is heavily dependent on the diversity of people they hire. At J.P. Morgan, much of our success starts with the sourcing of diverse talent from a wide range of universities around the world to our RE-ENTRY programs for career changes made later in life. Future leaders are created when the talent pool is populated with the right mix of candidates. Measuring and monitoring the success of companies and the correlation with their diversity statistics is an important driver of awareness, which we thank Jay Rosenzweig for championing.”
Mary Callahan Erdoes, CEO of J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management
2022 Rosenzweig Report
There is some good news: the number of women in corporate leadership roles has approximately doubled over the past 17 years. But unfortunately we began from a very low base. Today the total number of women leaders is still under 10 per cent. So, yes, the numbers are higher, but they do not even begin to approach equality.
“There’s nothing better than helping others who are less fortunate. Jay Rosenzweig grew up in Montreal with parents who taught him the importance of hard work and integrity. He dreams big, too, not just in business but also when it comes to social justice and fairness. Through his Rosenzweig Report, Jay has been fighting for inclusiveness, diversity and gender equality. This is the 18th consecutive year of the Rosenzweig Report and Jay’s tenacity shines through.”
Mark Cuban, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks Basketball Club, Philanthropist, Angel Investor in Countless High-Tech Start-ups, & Star on ABC’s Long-Time Hit Reality Television Show Shark Tank
“We’re seeing gender rights trampled on the world over; from Putin’s Russia to Iran to the overturning Roe v. Wade in the United States. At age 21, I was a founding member of the Russian anti-establishment punk collective Pussy Riot. A year later, I was imprisoned for singing an anti-Putin song. Along with other Pussy Riot members, I spent almost two years in Russian labor camps, where we were subjected to horrific treatment. When we emerged, we were stronger with a larger platform and many more supporters. My life is dedicated to human rights and gender equality. Why? Because I want to make sure that girls like my 14-year-old daughter don’t feel limited by the ‘boys club’ mentality that is still prevalent in society; from Disney movies teaching girls to be passive and just wait for somebody to come and save them; to big business where so few women leaders hold top positions. Through his women’s rights work on many fronts including his advocacy work on behalf of the women of Iran; his support for Ukraine and it’s First Lady and her foundation; his platform as Board Chair of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights; and his annual Rosenzweig Report on the lack of women leaders in business, Jay is an ally in our fight on several levels.”
Nadya Tolokonnikova, Artist, Creator of Pussy Riot, Prisoner of Conscience, & founder of Several Web3 Projects, Including UnicornDAO
2021 Rosenzweig Report
This year’s research revealed 52 female Named Executive Officers (NEOs) at Canada’s 100 largest publicly-traded corporations, an increase from 43 last year. NEOs are the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), and other top paid C-level executives named in a corporation’s management circulars. They are typically the most influential executives running a corporation – the leaders.
“Empowering more women as leaders across sectors profoundly propels organizations, people and society forward. While there has been some progress in the number of women in top leadership roles, there is still a significant amount of work to be done. We must challenge the status quo. All of us, regardless of gender, have a personal responsibility to actively support the ascension of women into positions of power and influence.”
Jessica Sibley, CEO TIME
2020 Rosenzweig Report
In 2020, based on our latest survey of top corporate jobs in Canada, women continue to face serious obstacles to advancement in business. Indeed, we found a year-over-year decline in the number of named female executives at Canada’s 100 largest public companies, dropping from 9.6% to 7.99%.
“My grandfather was a great man who strongly advocated for women’s rights. He famously stated that “As long as women are bound by poverty and as long as they are looked down upon, human rights will lack substance”, and that “Freedom cannot be achieved unless women have been emancipated”. He would be the first to say that if not for courageous women leaders like Albertina Sisulu, Lilian Ngoyi, Winnie Madikizela and many others, the fight to end Apartheid and the building of democracy in South Africa would have been far, far more difficult. Dynamic women leaders are the backbone of our democracy. I applaud The Rosenzweig Report for trumpeting the need for more women leaders for so many years.”
Ndaba Mandela, humanitarian, mentor, entrepreneur, political consultant, chairman and co-Founder of Africa Rising Foundation, and author of Going to the Mountain: Life Lessons from My Grandfather, Nelson Mandela
“Congratulations to Jay and the Rosenzweig Report for putting facts and figures to how far we need to go to achieve a degree of equity for women in the workplace. Companies and societies function better with women in leadership. You can’t improve what you don’t measure. The Rosenzweig Report enables progress.”
Andrew Yang US Presidential Candidate for 2020, Entrepreneur & Founder of Humanity Forward
2019 Rosenzweig Report
In 2019, based on our latest survey of top corporate jobs in Canada, we must report that women continue to be held back. Yes, there has been some overall progress, but it has been incremental at best. And when it comes to the all-important CEO position, there has been an increase of only two women as compared to 2006, when we began this annual report on the status of women in executive positions at Canada’s 100 largest public traded companies.
"Each year the Rosenzweig Report serves as an invaluable reminder that the advancement of women is proceeding incrementally at best in many C-suites and boardrooms across the nation. By aggregating and quantifying results, the Report highlights the fact that only modest gains are being made, hopefully providing a fact-based impetus for corporate Canada to move beyond more talk and get straight to more action."
Kathleen Taylor Chair of the Board, Royal Bank of Canada; Former President & Chief Executive Officer, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
2018 Rosenzweig Report
This past year in many respects represented a tipping point for women – and the men who support them. The abrupt fall of high-profile individuals in the realms of business, entertainment, politics and media, coupled with the rise of broad-based movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, likely signals a profound shift in societal attitudes towards gender, power and authority. Unfortunately, we cannot report that this shift has been fully reflected in Canada’s corporate executive suites. There are, however, several encouraging signs that provide hope that change is on the way. It is in that context that we report on our 13th annual survey
“Women represent the archetypal divine feminine and our aspirations for beauty, intuition, nurturing, affection and tenderness. A leadership embodying those qualities could heal the world.”
Deepak Chopra, M.D., F.A.C.P. MD, FACP, FRCP, Founder of The Chopra Foundation, a Non-Profit Entity for Research on Well-Being & Humanitarianism. A Wellness Icon & a NYT Best-Selling Author Having Written more than 90 Books
2017 Rosenzweig Report
Forging gender equity has been far more elusive than many think, despite male leaders – in business and politics – who are working diligently on the side of gender equity. This is not simply a women’s issue; it’s everybody’s issue. Everyone has a stake.
“Women are the backbone of a progressive society, and yet it is so hard to be a woman, especially a woman of colour. While it is difficult, we see women stepping up everywhere. Women should not have to fight this fight alone. We all have our blind spots, and we need each other. Jay Rosenzweig deserves kudos for tracking the number of women in leadership and for his actions and advocacy for change. Only through measurement and education can we hold one another to account and spur greater action to affect the positive transformational change.”
Van Jones CNN Host, Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Several Thriving Enterprises Including REFORM Alliance, Color of Change, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights & Dream Corps
2016 Rosenzweig Report
For 11 years, we’ve been tracking the number of women in leadership roles at Canada’s 100 largest publicly-traded corporations and equality remains a pipedream. Where Trudeau’s cabinet is 50-50 men and women, the top executives of Canada’s 100 largest publicly-traded companies are 92 percent male and a paltry 8 percent female, a slight drop this year over last year’s results.
“My belief in the power of women reaches back to my earliest memories. My mom would kiss me every night and say these words: ‘I am your mother Mary and God is a woman, sleep well my child’. As I grew older, I realized it made me a better man. Judging by his tireless work for gender equality, Jay Rosenzweig grew up under the same warm, maternalistic blanket of his mother. I commend Jay for encouraging the advancement of women in leadership.”
Isiah Thomas, International Businessman, NBA Champion & Hall of Famer, Humanitarian
2015 Rosenzweig Report
At no time during the past decade have we been more hopeful, more excited, more energized about the fact that real and lasting change is coming when it comes to gender equality in business.
“In my decades-long commitment to the women’s rights movement, one thing has always been clear: we can’t address the world’s most pressing challenges without women at the table across all sectors from corporates, nonprofits, governments and at the grassroots level. The Rosenzweig Report sheds both a hopeful light on the trajectory of gender equality in the corporate world, while also reminding us that there is still much more work to be done. We all have a responsibility to roll our sleeves up to pave the way toward a future where gender equality in the workplace is the norm.”
Zainab Salbi FoFounder of Women for Women International, Co-Founder of Daughters for Earth, Author of Freedom is an Inside Job, Host of Redefined Podcast
2014 Rosenzweig Report
This is the 9th Annual Rosenzweig Report on Women at the Top Levels of Corporate Canada. Since we started, the percentage of female NEOs (Named Executive Officers) who lead the 100 biggest public companies in Canada has moved from 4.6 percent to approximately 8 percent. The flip side is that we started from an appallingly low number so the increase, in real terms, leaves us far short of our ultimate goal. Indeed, the needle did not move forward this year over last year.
"As someone who appreciates the value of keeping score and understands the power of numbers, I applaud Jay Rosenzweig for tracking the advancement of women in the corporate world. Progress in gender equality requires careful measurement and accountability. By presenting the facts on an annual basis, The Rosenzweig Report performs an invaluable service. As one who is passionate about defending human rights and fostering human dignity, I commend this outstanding effort."
Diekembe Mutombo NBA Hall of Famer, Board Director, & Humanitarian
“The Female Quotient is in the Business of Equality, strategically partnering with the most influential businesses and conscious leaders in the world to close the gender gap. We have cultivated the largest global community of women in business across every industry in over 100 countries. We are proud to once again partner with Jay Rosenzweig on the publication of his 19th Annual Report on women in leadership in corporate Canada. Jay is a great example of what I like to call a conscious leader, someone who is a true ally in advancing equity in the workplace and beyond. This report reminds us that while progress has been made, there is still work to do. According to the World Economic Forum, it will take 131 years to close the gender gap. Yet, we invented the internet in 10 years, a COVID vaccine in one and ChatGPT in less than 2 weeks. Our community of over 3 million women knows that equality is possible if you want it! Countless studies have shown that diversity and equality are both essential to a company’s success. By working together, we can change the equation and close the gap to create a more equitable workplace.”
Shelley Zalis, CEO & Founder of The Female Quotient, is an Internationally Renowned Entrepreneur & Speaker, Movement Maker, & Champion of Gender Equality
2013 Rosenzweig Report
The Annual Rosenzweig Report looks at the 100 largest publicly-traded companies in Canada, based on revenue, and examines how many of the top-paid leadership roles are held by women. Under law, public companies in Canada are required to disclose the compensation of their CEO, CFO and the next three highest-paid employees. These employees are referred to as Named Executive Officers (“NEOs”) in the reports filed with the Ontario Securities Commission. This is the eighth year Rosenzweig & Co. has compiled this report, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to diversity and to tracking Canada’s progress on this important topic.
“At a time when human rights abuses, particularly those affecting women and girls in areas of armed conflict, are rising steeply, it is important to shine a light on the perpetrators of these crimes and demand justice and accountability. The Rosenzweig Report, now in its 19th year, began as a survey charting the progress women are making in reaching the top echelons in the corporate sector. Over the years it has adopted a wider perspective, advocating for those women and children whose voices often go unheard. This broadening of purpose mirrors Jay’s active participation in the social issues of our times as an investor, spokesperson, and mentor. Whether it has been leading a panel at Davos, publishing an article in Time Magazine, or standing against authoritarianism in Russia, his voice has been unwavering.”
Irwin Cotler, Founder & International Chair, The Raoul Wallenberg Center For Human Rights
2012 Rosenzweig Report
This year, in the Seventh Annual Rosenzweig Report, our findings clearly indicate that progress has stalled, with the same number of women in senior executive-level positions as last year.
“Canada continues to rise as a global force in empowering women, thanks to the initiative of its incredible country leaders including Jay Rosenzweig. At Mogul, one of the largest female millennial platforms worldwide, we are proud to collaborate with Jay Rosenzweig in all ways possible, as he continues to help advance the state of women worldwide.”
Tiffany Pham, Founder & CEO, Mogul
2011 Rosenzweig Report
In the past six years the numbers have risen modestly, however remain well below a reasonable initial target of 20%. This target represents one woman at the most senior level in every Top 100 company and is more consistent with the make-up of the talent pool of corporate officers one level below.
“My mantra has always been that we’re not here to just exist, but to impact people in their lives. As a songwriter and singer, in songs like ‘Rise Up’, I have tried to inspire people to reach deep within themselves, no matter the adversity; to move mountains. For women, one of those mountains exists in the business world. I believe the Rosenzweig Report inspires women to reach for the top as leaders who can impact others for good. “
Andra Day, Award Winning Singer/Songwriter & Actress, 2021 Golden Globe Award Winner for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama
2010 Rosenzweig Report
Since we began tracking the advancement of women in the corner offices of Canada’s largest publicly traded companies, we have found both progress and disappointment along the way. This year – the Fifth Annual Rosenzweig Report – our findings lack both sentiments: progress is stalled, but we are not overly disappointed because we believe the economic turmoil, or global recession, has played a significant role.
“I wish to commend Jay Rosenzweig for his diligence in advocating for the advancement of women’s rights. As a musician and as one who travels the world practicing my art form, I have observed that collaboration and inclusion makes for better music and for better societies. The Rosenzweig Report plays an important role in that regard, because it tells us how far we have come, while also reminding us of how much further we have to go.”
A.R. Rahman, Academy Award & Grammy Award Winning Artist & Humanitarian
2009 Rosenzweig Report
The number of women executives at the highest levels of corporate Canada increased from one year ago with a year-over-year increase of 24 percent. This year we determined that 7.2% of the top paid executive positions were held by women compared to 5.8% in our 2008 report.
“I want to inspire young girls to pursue their dreams. Young girls don’t want pity. They don’t want handouts. What they do want is for people to believe in them and give them a fair chance, whether in the arts, business or whatever endeavor they wish to follow. The Rosenzweig report plays an important role in highlighting that there is a lot of work to be done to close the gender gap, so that we can achieve equality and shatter glass ceilings that continue to hold women back. I commend Jay Rosenzweig for championing this report year after year. I always look forward to reading about the steps taken closer towards gender equality, as well as to his suggestions on what we can do together to make the necessary changes needed to make the goal achievable.”
Sherrie Silver, Creative Director, Choreographer & UN IFAD Advocate for Rural Youth
2008 Rosenzweig Report
The number of women executives at the highest levels of corporate Canada dropped from one year ago with a year-over-year decrease of 16 per cent. There are only 31 women in the top offices in Canada’s largest public companies, compared to 37 a year earlier.
“When I first met Jay Rosenzweig at the NBA All-Star game in Toronto in 2016, he and his team had already been publishing the annual Rosenzweig Report on Women in leadership for more than a decade. And he’s still at it today – through maddeningly slow corporate progress, a global pandemic, and international upheaval. I admire his determination and perseverance when it comes to such important social issues as gender equality, diversity and inclusion. But Jay doesn’t stop there. He is the Chair of the Board of Irwin Cotler’s Raoul Wallenberg Centre For Human Rights; he sits on a number of boards supporting causes ranging from healthcare, youth empowerment, refugee protection, and anti-gun violence; and he’s an outspoken advocate against Antisemitism, racism and all forms of hate and discrimination. And over the past year, Jay has not only been a vocal opponent of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, he’s traveled to Kyiv to meet the leadership, and discuss reconstruction and justice. His work in supporting Ukraine continues, including supporting the First Lady and her foundation at the UNGA in NYC a few months back. Whether advocating for the sovereignty of Ukrainian people, the freedom of Iranian women, or the economic empowerment of women globally, my friend Jay is a change-maker and a do-gooder in the very best sense. I’ve been pleased to have had opportunities to work with Jay in common cause and look forward to doing more together into the future. This year, the Rosenzweig Report has, for the first time, found that the number of women in top positions has finally hit double digits, or more than 10%. A lot more is still needed and I know Jay will continue to push for change.”
Caryl M. Stern, Executive Director, Walton Family Foundation
“In the music business, success most often comes when hard work and perseverance meet up with opportunity. For women in the corporate world, it is much the same.
If given the opportunity, women can make a real difference as corporate leaders. The Rosenzweig Report is valuable because it meticulously charts the lagging presence of women, including women of color, in top corporate jobs. It is a clarion call to do better.”
Erica Campbell, Five-Time Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist; Popular Morning Radio Host; Reality TV Show Star; Author; Pastor
2007 Rosenzweig Report
Women executives in Canada at the highest levels made notable strides last year with a year-over-year increase of 50% in the number of female executive officers at the largest public companies in the country. That’s the good news. On the flip side, a lot more must be done for women to achieve equality at the highest levels of corporate Canada.
“It’s incredibly important that we keep pushing women and diversity forward. Progress has been made but not nearly enough. The majority of capital is still managed by male private wealth managers. The majority of political decisions are still made by male politicians. We need to continue to normalize diversity in the workplace and equal partners in the home. For one, we need to solve childcare to keep women in the work force. The good news is that childcare is a $500 Billion+ industry and our Halogen Future of Families study determined that the opportunity surrounding the families is a $7.5 Trillion Industry: This is a de-risked and lucrative opportunity for these same private wealth managers and investors. Childcare is the key to change. I’m optimistic that things are changing with more women taking their companies public and more female entrepreneurial billionaires being made regularly as there is no lack of women starting companies.”
Jesse Draper, Founder & GP, Halogen Ventures, a Leading VC Fund Investing in Consumer Technology Companies led by Women
2006 Rosenzweig Report
The first-annual Rosenzweig report profiles the number of women in executive positions in Canada. The goal is to promote gender diversity at the highest levels of business. Statistics were extrapolated from a detailed survey of the top 100 publicly traded Canadian companies, ranked by revenue, and listed in various Canadian media sources. There were a number of steps that led to the final analysis.