WE United launches inaugural Lead Forward Report
Bringing together key research and data across six areas shaping leadership and progression
WE United has announced the launch of its inaugural Lead Forward Report, an analysis consolidating publicly available research and data across the technology and electronics sectors.
The report examines six key areas influencing leadership progression: C-suite and board representation, pay equity and compensation, women in STEM and technology, DEI-related corporate initiatives, entrepreneurship and access to funding, and policy and legislation.
Leadership Progression
The Lead Forward Report examines contributing factors of an interconnected system that determine who advances into senior level roles.
“Leadership progression is not a single-variable issue, it is systemic,” said Jackie Mattox, Founder and CEO of WE United. “When we look at representation, compensation, and opportunity in isolation, we miss the broader truth that multiple factors compound over time. This report is a call to action for leaders to think holistically and align decisions with long-term business goals. Balanced leadership is not only a values-based conversation, it is an essential leadership discipline for sustainable success.”
This is the first time WE United has published a report of this kind, and the organization intends for it to become an annual release.
Key Findings
Among the figures highlighted in the report, women currently hold 29% of C-suite roles in corporate America, a number that has remained unchanged for the second consecutive year. In tech, women earn around 84 cents for every dollar earned by men, which amounts to an annual gap of roughly $15,000. Women represent 26.7% of the global tech workforce, while all-female founding teams received 2.3% of venture capital funding.
The report also points to areas where progress is visible. One of the studies included in Lead Forward found that women now hold 49% of CFO roles globally, reflecting a significant year-on-year increase. Representation has also improved in some technical and AI-related skill categories. At the same time, women remain underrepresented in senior executive roles, retention challenges in tech continue, and funding outcomes remain uneven.
Looking Ahead
For WE United, Lead Forward extends the organization’s wider work across mentorship, leadership development, community building, and its two annual Leadership Summits. The report adds a data-led dimension to that work and is intended to become an annual benchmark for tracking how leadership and workforce trends evolve across the technology sector.
The inaugural Lead Forward report is now available through WE United here.
Founded in 2017, WE United (WE) is dedicated to strengthening the leadership pipeline required to guide future-forward innovation, including artificial intelligence. The organization advances its mission through sponsorship and engagement across the electronics supply chain, including semiconductor and IP&E component manufacturing and distribution, as well as the broader technology-driven industries shaping innovation in medical, industrial, automotive, aerospace, defense, energy and sustainability, and digital and software sectors.
With events and local chapters across the United States and Europe, and planned expansion into Mexico, Canada, and Asia, WE United is committed to building an inclusive global network for professionals aligned with its vision.
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