A survey of 22,000 companies operating across 91 countries has found that locations with the highest proportion of female leaders also happened to boast the highest rates of profitability. Coincidence? We think not. The research conducted by consulting firm EY and the Peterson Institute for International Economics over the past year found that companies with at least 30 per cent female leaders could generally count on profits six per cent higher than those with no female bosses. The authors also found that the policies that placed a higher burden of childcare on women, were a barrier to female corporate advancement. Further evidence that paternity leave is crucial and can benefit women, as well as men.

Want more women on your board? Offer better paternity leave