Corporate diversity: India's most inclusive firms post 50% higher profits, says study; flags poor women representation in top roles
Companies that rank highest on diversity are delivering a clear financial edge, with a new study showing that inclusive firms recorded nearly 50% more profit after tax (PAT) than their less diverse peers.
According to the 'Marching Sheep Inclusion Index 2025', a study conducted by HR advisory firm Marching Sheep, around 8 out of 10 sectors showed a strong link between the presence of women in organisations and higher profitability, PTI reported.
The data was drawn from 840 listed companies across 30 sectors including manufacturing, steel, BFSI, pharma, FMCG, infrastructure and IT.
But even as inclusivity becomes a corporate buzzword, women remain significantly under-represented at the top.
Over 63.45% of companies had no women in key managerial positions, the study found.
Further, women account for just 22% of the total workforce in India Inc, a 6 percentage point gap from the 28% reported in the Periodic Urban Labour Force Survey 2023-24.
'We don't just need more women in the room; we need them at the table, influencing decisions and shaping strategy,' said Marching Sheep Founder and Managing Partner Sonica Aron.
She added, 'True inclusion isn't about counting numbers but about redistributing power. And that shift is still absent. Inclusion is about access, authority, and accountability.'
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