Making History? More Women Leading Higher Ed As Women’s Research Erased: Take The Lead 3/24/2026

During Women’s History Month, celebrating women leading top academic institutions is well-deserved. But it is at a time when gender and race studies are defunded and erased by proclamation, all while more women in this country than ever are attending college, graduate school and earning post-doctoral degrees.

“Of the top 200 institutions in the THE World University Rankings 2026, 58 have a female vice-chancellor or president – 29 per cent of the total,” according to Times Higher Education. “This was up slightly from 27 per cent at the same point the year before, and the seventh consecutive annual increase. The proportion of female leaders has shot up from just 17 per cent in 2019, when there were 34.”

Is The “Broken Rung” Holding You Back From Leadership or Is It Something Deeper?

Issue 2879— March 24, 2026

An early morning check on social media led me to Liz Elting’s latest Forbes.com article, “Women Are Bypassing the Broken Rung. How Corporate America Can Keep Up.” I highly recommend it.

The “broken rung” was coined by McKinsey and Company. It was later published in book form by authors and McKinsey partners Larena Yee, Kweilin Ellingrud and Maria del Mar Martinez to describe what they say is even more pervasive than the glass ceiling as a barrier to women’s advancement in corporations.

The Power To Turn Access Into Opportunity

By Erin Pavane

One moment that really shaped how I lead happened while I was building partnerships between Sanderson Yachting and travel advisors.
As I began speaking with more advisors, I kept hearing the same thing. Many believed private yacht charters were simply out of reach for them. The industry felt closed off. The booking process seemed complicated. Commission structures often favored larger agencies or long-established brokers with deep relationships in the space.

Early Bird Pricing for Power Up 2026 Is Now Open

August 25–26, 2026 · Washington, DC · Women's Equality Day

Imagine sitting in a room where Margaret Atwood, the woman who wrote The Handmaid's Tale and foresaw this moment decades ago, is standing at a podium speaking directly to you about leadership, power, and what audacity actually looks like in action. That's August 26. That's Power Up 2026: Audacity: Leadership in Action.

You'll leave with strategies you can use Monday morning, connections you'll still be talking about in 2030, and the kind of clarity that only comes from being in a room full of women who refuse to play small.

Early bird pricing is open now, and these are the lowest prices we'll offer. Full price is $497 per ticket. Lock in yours before April 30.

Early Bird Rates—Expires April 30:

Conference Only: $297 (full price $497)
Bring a Friend: $497 for 2 tickets (full price $994)
Full Experience: $1,250 — includes the August 25 VIP Reception, Opening Concert, Dinner & Femme Art Fair + August 26 Women's Equality Day Conference
Table of 10 — Conference Only with Preferred Seating: $5,000 (Full price—$7,000)
Table of 10 — Full Experience with Preferred Seating: $12,500 (Full price —$15,000)

Past Power Up attendees and Take The Lead program alums, check your email for your exclusive Insider Rate.

REGISTER NOW → taketheleadwomen.com/thepowerupconference

Here’s a great opportunity for leadership development, Arizona friends:

You are invited to the Women’s Collective's "Elevating Women" Event on Friday, April 10th, from 8 am to 1:30 pm.
Location is Venue 8600, 8600 E. Anderson Dr. in Scottsdale.

Here’s a link to the full brochure with all information and a link to register for an insightful, dynamic and engaging event.
There will be an amazing keynote speaker, panelists, mentors, and a networking lunch.
Cost is $50 and reservations by April 1 are appreciated.

Take The Lead is grateful for TWC’s support and mission alignment to advance women’s leadership and we are happy to support this don’t miss event.

For questions, contact jessica@the-wc.org. We hope to see you there!