site.btaWomen in Business Report Shows Corporate Senior Leadership Gender Disparity

Women in Bulgaria hold 16% of senior management positions, contrasting with a European directive requiring at least 30%. This directive must be integrated into national law by the end of 2024, Lidiya Shouleva, a Board Member of the Council of Women in Business, highlighted these statistics at the Next Level HR 2024 forum at the Sofia Event Centre on Wednesday.

Shouleva believes that the issue's solution is not about appointing unqualified women to leadership positions. She disagrees that only 16% of women are qualified and advocates for a level playing field. She criticized the practice of appointing women only during crises, only to replace them with men when fair weather returns.

"In my previous role as Minister of Social Policy, I used to believe that those with the ability would naturally rise to the top. It took me a long time to recognize that the current status quo necessitates quotas to break through the glass ceiling that still holds many women back,". Shouleva also highlighted that the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, which includes women in senior corporate leadership roles, primarily focuses on issues of child-rearing.

Rumiana Boseva, Managing Partner at ARS Bulgaria, told the forum that the labour market in Bulgaria is competitive, with employers seeking staff rather than the reverse. She emphasized that salaries have limits, so motivation is driven by benefits and ensuring employees feel valued.