Women at the Top

Asia is key to success in luxury goods

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:49:11 GMT

After pioneering the sale of luxury brands in China, Sung-Joo Kim now runs MCM Group, which is set on becoming one of the world's largest luxury brands. She talks to the FT's Caroline Daniel about her career and the business of luxury in Asia

US sees progress for women's rights globally

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:22:56 GMT

Speaking at this year's Women at the Top conference in Shanghai, Melanne Verveer, US ambassador-at-large for global women's issues, explains to the FT's Gillian Tett why progess is being made in advancing women's rights.

China's Baidu expects strong growth

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:43:31 GMT

Strong growth at home and plans to expand abroad give Baidu reason for optimism. Jennifer Li, chief financial officer of the Chinese search engine group, talks to the FT's Caroline Daniel about her plans for the company.

How to be a boardroom success

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 05:08:00 GMT

Across Europe there are calls for more women to be admitted to boards. Leyla Boulton talks to Lady Jay and Johanna Waterous, two high-profile board members, about how women should make the most of their role once they have got their feet under the table.

Hyflux CEO Lum wins entrepreneur award

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 06:10:00 GMT

Speaking after winning the 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in Monte Carlo, Olivia Lum of Hyflux in Singapore tells the FT's Hugo Greenhalgh why this is just the start

Women at the top: Laurence Parisot

Thu, 26 May 2011 02:55:00 GMT

Laurence Parisot, president of MEDEF, the French employers' federation, tells the FT's Andrew Hill about misogyny in business and society and why quotas for female board members are necessary

French lessons on women in boardrooms

Wed, 11 May 2011 10:55:00 GMT

The FT's Leyla Boulton asks whether headhunters are the gatekeepers of the boardroom and examines whether quotas, as introduced by France, really are the best way to get more women onto corporate boards.

Zhang Xin on being a businesswoman in China

Tue, 10 May 2011 17:25:33 GMT

Zhang Xin, chief executive and co-founder of Soho China, the property developer, tells Lifen Zhang, editor of FT Chinese, that Chinese businesswomen are more readily accepted than their counterparts in the West because of the entrepreneurial attitude of the country

No sex please we're the European Court of Justice

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:25:00 GMT

From 2012 it will be illegal to calculate insurance premiums or benefits on gender, the European Court of Justice has ruled. Lex's John Authers and Edward Hadas discuss the difference between men and women and how insurers should reaction to the ECJ's decision.

Call for more women on UK boards

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 23:21:52 GMT

Lord Davies, former trade minister, wants to see more than double the number of women on UK boards by 2015. He tells Brian Groom, UK employment and business editor, that chairmen and headhunters must do more to equalise the sex ratios in business, or face the prospect of enforced quotas.

A new breed of female entrepreneur

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:41:00 GMT

Although women in the UK are half as likely to start their own business as men, a growing number are choosing to do so. Jonathan Moules reports

PepsiCo CEO calls for tax simplification

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 17:31:28 GMT

American business is crying out for comprehensive tax reform, says Indra Nooyi, chief executive of PepsiCo, the US food giant. She tells the FT's Gillian Tett that she wants discussions with the Obama administration to cut the complexity of taxes and allowances.

More women makes business sense

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 04:08:00 GMT

Helena Morrissey, chief executive of Newton Investment Management and founder of an initiative to boost women's representation at board level to 30% in five years says progress has been glacial over the last decade. She says although research shows greater representation could boost profits, there are many factors holding women back.

Kochhar optimistic about women in business

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 16:22:42 GMT

Chanda Kochhar, managing director and chief executive of India's ICICI Bank, speaks to James Lamont, the FT's south Asia bureau chief, about the challenges she has faced in her career and the changing role of women in business in emerging markets

Hard work key for Sabanci

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 01:45:00 GMT

Güler Sabanci, chairwoman of Sabanci Group, one of Turkey's largest conglomerates, tells the FT's Leyla Boulton that working harder than the rest has been vital to her success in business, and explains why Turkey should be allowed to join the European Union

Baghdad vision excites Hadid

Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:14:00 GMT

Zaha Hadid, founding director of Zaha Hadid Architects, tells the FT's Richard Edgar why she has never considered herself a 'female architect', and about her hope to one day help rebuild her home city of Baghdad

Female CEO stands out in Germany

Thu, 18 Nov 2010 11:39:00 GMT

Ines Kolmsee, chief executive of SKW Stahl-Metallurgie, the German speciality chemicals group, tells the FT's Richard Edgar about being the only female CEO of a leading quoted German company, and her work with Generation CEO, a lobby group pushing for a greater role for women in business.

Cherie Blair on women's financing

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:47:00 GMT

Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, tells the FT's Richard Edgar that more must be done to provide women across the world with access to capital, a problem exacerbated, she says, by the inability of many women to own titled land.

'Renaissance' men help women to succeed

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 03:08:00 GMT

Vinita Bali, chief executive of Britannia Industries, one of India's largest confectioners, tells the FT's Richard Edgar it is forward-looking men who enable an equality of opportunity that make the most difference to the careers of women.

Lagarde speaks out on female quotas

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:36:00 GMT

Christine Lagarde, French finance minister, tells Lionel Barber, FT editor, why she has changed her mind on female quotas and now believes that a system to help women move into senior roles is a necessary evil in today's male-dominated boardrooms and political arenas.

Women at the Top: Mentoring to success

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:46:00 GMT

A ground-breaking mentoring scheme pairs chairmen of leading UK companies with hand-picked female executives aiming for boardroom positions. Leyla Boulton investigates the success of the FTSE 100 Cross-Company Mentoring Programme. Part of the Women at the Top series

Women at the Top: Nahed Taher

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:01:00 GMT

Nahed Taher, founder and chief executive of Bahrain-based Gulf One Investment Bank, tells Megan Murphy, the FT's investment banking correspondent, about the challenge of setting up her own bank – and why passion is vital for success. Part of the Women at the Top series.

Women at the Top: Nancy McKinstry

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 03:48:00 GMT

Nancy McKinstry, chairman and chief executive of Wolters Kluwer, the Dutch publishing group, tells Andrew Hill, the FT's city editor, why a strong pipeline of female middle managers is vital to producing the next generation of women executives. Part of the Women at the Top series.