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What do you think is the biggest challenge for women at work? We asked people on the street.

30 October 2025

On a sunny day in Utrecht, we took to the streets with one question: What do you think is the biggest challenge for women in the workplace? The answers were both relatable and diverse: from “being paid less” to “being taken seriously in a male-dominated world.” And surprisingly, those answers are very close to the facts.

A woman is being interviewed on the street with the text: “The biggest challenge for women at work?” on a pink background.

In this blog, we connect the insights from our street interviews to facts, figures, and our mission at Conclusion: empowering women in the workplace.

What are people saying on the street?

Curious to hear what people had to say? Watch the Insta Reel below!

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Een bericht gedeeld door Conclusion (@bijconclusion)

As you can see, the responses show that gender equality in the workplace is a real and relevant issue. But what do the facts and figures actually say?

Facts and Figures

Here are some striking findings from recent research:

Pay gap: In the corporate world, women earn on average 6.9% less than men in comparable roles.
Leadership: Only 24% of leadership positions in IT are held by women.
Networking: Women have less access to influential networks and benefit less from social capital at work.
Bias: Women face stereotypes such as being “too emotional” or “not suited for leadership.”
Double burden: Care responsibilities are still unevenly distributed, which hinders career development.

Why Change Is Needed

These challenges are not just personal obstacles — they are societal issues. They touch on equal opportunities, talent development, and sustainable employability. That’s why at Conclusion, we actively work toward change.

The good news? Change works. Research shows that organizations with diverse teams perform better financially, are more innovative, and more attractive to new talent. Diversity isn’t a luxury — it’s a success factor.

Women in Position at Conclusion

Through our Women in Position program, we’re working toward greater representation of women in IT, leadership, and sports — in collaboration with FC Utrecht, of which we are the main sponsor.

We’ve built an internal women’s network, spotlight female role models, and participate in Girlsday.

In the IT sector, only 24% of leadership roles and 17.2% of technical positions are held by women. At Conclusion, 24.1% of our workforce is female — significantly higher than the industry average. We’re on the right track, but we’re not there yet.

Conclusion aims to reach 30.3% female representation overall and 27.8% in leadership by the end of 2025.
An inclusive and diverse workforce empowers everyone — and helps us make even more impact for our clients and society.

Women in position

Conclusion & FC Utrecht join hands to draw attention to the under-representation of women on the pitch, in IT and in leadership roles.

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What now?

The answers from the street and the research data make one thing clear: there’s work to be done. But there’s also movement. By continuing to listen, learn, and take action, we’re building a workplace where everyone gets equal opportunities. Because when we truly empower women, everyone wins.