Business Feminism and Women's Recruitment in Central East European Executive Search

The emergence of business feminism has significantly impacted the aspirations of middle-class women across various countries, and the Central and Eastern European region is no exception. Many women in this field felt that their knowledge, experience, and ambition were not recognized. This feeling was reinforced by the retraditionalisation that accompanied the regime change after 1989 and then, in some countries, by the illiberal ideology of the 2010s. In response, messages advocating women's career pursuits, individual resilience in overcoming obstacles, and business-driven initiatives supporting women as autonomous employees gained substantial popularity. This paper delves into the manifestation of business feminism in the selection process of executive managers. It aims to explore how gendered individual fulfillment is integrated into the process and how personal capabilities and motivation are emphasized. It seeks to explore the opinion of experts engaged in senior executive selection regarding the opportunities to increase the representation of women in senior management. To contribute to this inquiry, we comprehensively analyzed 22 interviews with executive search experts and 22 interviews with company decision-makers. These semi-structured interviews took place in four Central European countries (the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia) during the period of 2020-2021. Preliminary findings reveal a significant emphasis by interviewees, particularly executive search experts, on individual merit and the perceived lower motivation among women. While some respondents acknowledge shortcomings in this approach and criticize societal or political value systems, organizations’ responsibility for perpetuating the existing status quo is not frequently discussed. This presentation aims to shed light on the dynamics surrounding gender diversity in senior management and provoke thoughtful discussions on the role of organizations in fostering positive change.