Women in Business 2026: Thailand’s momentum in female leadership accelerates, outpacing global and regional averages
Bangkok, 3 March 2026 – Grant Thornton’s Women in Business 2026 report shows that global progress toward gender balance in senior leadership has slowed. Women now hold 32.9% of senior management roles worldwide, down from 34.0% last year. At the same time, expectations from job candidates and investors have risen sharply: 91.9% of global mid‑market leaders consider gender‑equality initiatives when evaluating employers, and nearly 23.0% of companies have received direct inquiries about their senior‑team gender balance—an increase of 14.3 percentage points.
ASIA PACIFIC AND ASEAN IN ONE VIEW
Across Asia Pacific, women now hold 31.8% of senior roles, with several markets, including Japan, showing notable improvement. ASEAN continues to outperform both global and regional averages, with women holding approximately 39.5% of senior positions.
Thailand – a regional leader in visible female leadership
Thailand remains one of the strongest performers globally. In 2026, women account for 44.1% of senior management roles—well above global averages (32.9%), Asia Pacific (31.8%), and ASEAN (~39.5%) benchmarks, and up from 43.1% in 2025. This reflects a maturing leadership pipeline and market practices that make gender balance more visible to talent and investors.
" Rising expectations from both talent and investors mean gender equality is no longer a values-led aspiration; it is a strategic growth lever. At Grant Thornton, Thailand, women represent half of our 24 senior leaders. We see, in practical terms, how balanced leadership sharpens judgement, elevates the quality of debate, accelerates performance, and builds organisational resilience in a volatile market," said Ian Pascoe, CEO & Managing Partner, Grant Thornton, Thailand.
The talent frontline – visibility wins
Candidates are no longer satisfied with policies on paper; they want to see visible role models and measurable progress. This is particularly acute in Thailand’s tight labour market for specialist skills, where organisations that publish gender metrics, demonstrate fair‑pay controls and show balanced leadership panels gain an edge in attracting and retaining talent.
The research also shows that mid‑market firms are winning senior female talent from larger organisations: among women who joined a mid‑market business in the past six months, 43.5% came from employers with more than 500 employees – above the long‑term average of 38.4%.
"Investors are now scrutinising leadership diversity and pay equity readiness as part of due diligence. Thai mid-market companies that can evidence progress, including balanced succession pipelines and transparent reward frameworks, are finding it easier to secure capital, partnerships and regional expansion opportunities," said Tanva Mahitivanichcha, Partner and Head of Tax & Legal, Grant Thornton, Thailand.
Risks of roll‑back – and what to do next
Despite the commercial benefits, 21.9% of mid‑market firms worldwide plan to relax gender‑equality initiatives—often those linked to senior leadership. Pulling back risks weakening leadership pipelines at a time when visibility is a competitive differentiator.
Firms that maintain or expand gender‑equality efforts outperform:
- 73.0% grew revenue by more than 5% in 2025
- 56.2% increased headcount by more than 5%
- 48.8% increased exports by more than 5%
How Grant Thornton Thailand is helping clients make impact visible
- Pay‑equity diagnostics and transparency readiness (policies, governance and reporting playbooks).
- Inclusive recruitment and progression – skills‑based hiring, balanced slates and sponsorship to strengthen the pipeline.
- Leadership governance – succession analytics, targets and DE&I dashboards for boards and executive teams.
- Family‑business and SME advisory – succession design that promotes female leadership without disrupting control or continuity.
Recommendations for Thai mid‑market leaders
- Use impact to accelerate gender parity – link balanced leadership to growth metrics and decision quality.
- Elevate diverse voices – broaden perspectives in executive forums to avoid blind spots.
- Increase visibility – publish goals and progress to attract talent and reassure investors.
Notes to editors
The findings are drawn from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR), one of the world’s leading surveys of mid‑market businesses, with fieldwork conducted July–October 2025 across 35 economies via online and telephone interviews in local languages. All Women in Business 2026 data and assets are embargoed until 3 March 2026.
About Grant Thornton in Thailand
Grant Thornton in Thailand is one of the world's leading organisations of independent assurance, tax, and advisory firms. Established in 1991, Grant Thornton combines global reach with deep local market expertise to support clients across diverse industries and capture growth opportunities.
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![Rattanakorn]()
Rattanakorn (KJ) Sutthiphongkait Marketing professional with 14+ years of experience in branding, digital marketing, and strategic communications. Currently Marketing Communications and Branding Manager at Grant Thornton Thailand, driving brand visibility and stakeholder engagement. Former Strategic Partnership Manager, leading value-driven collaborations and business growth.Let’s connect and explore opportunities to collaborate!
