People from Asian backgrounds are well represented in entry level and mid-level jobs in Australian business, yet they are significantly under-represented in leadership roles, representing an enormous waste of talent, according to DCA’s research launched August 2014.
While 9.3% of the Australian labour force is Asian born, only 4.9% make it to senior executive level. In ASX 200 companies, only 1.9% of executives have Asian cultural origins, compared to 9.6% of the Australian community. DCAs new research, Cracking the Cultural Ceiling: Future Proofing Your Business in the Asian Century, has uncovered valuable information about ˜the bamboo ceiling and why so few Asian leaders are reaching the top.
Key findings include:
Asian talent is ambitious, motivated and capable: 84% plan to advance to a very senior role, 91% say challenging work is very important in their next career move, and 97% have Asia capabilities.
Asian talent is under leveraged, undervalued and likely to leave: Only 17% strongly agree that their organisation uses their Asia capabilities very well, one in five are very satisfied with career progress and opportunities, and 22% strongly agree that they have worked in organisations that value cultural diversity. 30% say they are likely to leave their employer in the next year.
Key barriers are locking out Asian talent in Australian organisations:
- Cultural bias and stereotyping: Only 18% of Asian talent feel their workplaces are free of cultural diversity biases and stereotypes. Many regularly experience bias and stereotyping, including about their cultural identity, leadership capability, English proficiency, and age. Women from Asian backgrounds experience a ˜double disadvantage.
- Westernised leadership models: 61% feel pressure to conform to existing leadership styles that are inherently ˜Anglo, e.g. over-valuing self-promotion and assertive direct communication, while undervaluing and misinterpreting quiet reserve, deference and respect for seniority.
- Lack of relationship capital: Only one in four has access to mentors or professional networks and even less has access to sponsors; similarly low levels feel included in workplace social activities.
- The case for culture not understood: Only 15% strongly agree their organisation leverages its workforce cultural diversity to better service clients. Organisations often fail to fully grasp the strategic value of Asian markets, capabilities and talent for Australian organisations operating in the Asian Century.
Lisa Annese, DCAs CEO said the bamboo ceiling urgently needs to be addressed.
“It is inconceivable that in a country where nearly 10% of the population is born in Asia or identify as having an Asian background that they should have such a low rate of representation in Australian corporate leadership. DCAs new research represents a ground-breaking step in identifying the blockages and addressing them so that organisations can stop wasting talent and truly harness this cultural capital”, said Lisa.
Asian markets, both in Australia and in the region, have enormous significance for Australia’s economy, said Lisa.
Australia’s two-way trade in goods and services totaled more than A$600 billion or 41% of GPD in 2012 and eight out of ten of Australia’s ten largest trading partners are in Asia. Closer to home, Australia’s multicultural market has an estimated purchasing power of over A$75 billion per year, with a higher than average disposal income. Clearly it is in all our interests to adopt a culturally responsive approach to business strategy and therefore talent management, indeed the benefits of doing so for corporate performance, innovation and access to new markets are well established”, added Lisa.
Giam Swiegers, CEO of Deloitte who is a major sponsor of the research, said representation of Asian talent in senior leadership is a strategic business issue.
The challenge to us, as Australian employers, remains our ability to view the talent agenda through a wide ranging lens, not only maximising the multicultural talent pool but actively addressing the bias, assumptions and stereotypes associated with the well know term ˜bamboo ceiling. Like many other organisations we are on a journey. By understanding, appreciating, and leveraging the cultural diversity Australia has to offer we will collectively advance local and global business opportunities for Australian businesses in the Asian Century, said Giam.
Cracking the Cultural Ceiling is a partnership research initiative between Platinum Sponsor, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and Gold Sponsors, Commonwealth Bank Australia and IBM Australia, along with Silver Sponsors, King & Wood Mallesons, Performance Education, and The Next Step.
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Diversity Council Australia (OLeary, J. and Tilly, J.) Cracking the Cultural Ceiling: Future Proofing Your Business in the Asian Century, Sydney, Diversity Council Australia, 2014.
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