Challenging Corporate Sexism: A Women on Boards Conversation With Alison Rose | Feature Article
- Lindsey Schlandt
- May 21
- 1 min read
THEBOSSMAGAZINE.COM — Dame Alison Rose, former CEO of NatWest Group, has become a powerful voice for gender equity in business. In a candid interview at a Women on Boards event, she reflected on everything from corporate sexism to inclusive hiring, sharing how systems can better support female entrepreneurs.
She criticized the persistent expectation that women must “juggle” work and family in ways men aren’t asked to, and highlighted the massive funding gap—less than 1% of venture capital goes to women-led businesses. Through the Rose Review and initiatives like NatWest’s accelerator hubs, Alison focused on creating practical pathways for women to scale their ventures and access support.
Her Dream Bigger program targets girls aged 16–18, aiming to build resilience and entrepreneurial ambition before they disengage from opportunity. Alison also addressed the nuanced realities of corporate bias, emphasizing that challenges don’t always stem from gender—and that the real solution lies in cultivating environments where diverse talent can thrive on merit.
From her own experience of being overlooked in meetings to sponsoring programs that change the pipeline, Dame Alison Rose continues to advocate for a business world where success is determined by capability, not identity.
