Although the number of women working in the alternatives space has increased slightly over the last few years, those in senior roles are still a minority, according to a report by data provider Preqin.
Overall, women now represent 19.7% of the global alternatives workforce – a “modest” increase from the 18.8% back in 2017.
The study – published ahead of International Women’s Day – highlighted the gender imbalance found at managing director level and above, calling it “lonely at the top”.
Women account for just 11.9% of senior roles in the alternatives space, according to Preqin. There are also significant variations in female representation across asset class and geography.
The asset class with the best female representation was venture capital, wherein women made up 21.1% of the workforce. The region with the best representation was North America with 20.4%.
Funds consultancy firm Laven Partners’ associate director Elizabeth Frumson, who took part in the study, said: “I still find myself sometimes being the only woman in a room. This needs to change.”
“Having spoken to several females in the industry, there is little room for them to grow due to the stigmas associated with being a woman. Some of them include stereotypes which hinder the ability a female employee may have to influence her colleagues,” she added.
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