Gender equality | Billion-dollar tobacco giant reveals how to be more gender equal

Last year, a study from management consultants Mckinsey & Consultancy found that women, particularly women of colour, remain underrepresented in the workplace – with representation lagging at almost every level of seniority.

However, companies with women on their Boards, across all sectors, outperform those that are less gender diverse.

Yet, often, there is not much role-modelling or support for career-minded women looking to advance to senior positions – or they doubt themselves as they enter a world that isn’t one populated by many other women.

This is exactly what Melissa Whiting, Vice President of Inclusion & Diversity felt when she first started climbing the career ladder at tobacco firm Philip Morris International (PMI).