According to the 2011 “Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women BoardDirectors, Executive Officers and Top Earners,” when it comes toleadership opportunities for women in corporate America, femalesare no further along the corporate ladder than they were six yearsago.

According to the survey, women held only 7.5% of executiveofficer top-earner positions in 2011, while men accounted for 92.5%of the top earners. In addition, less than one in five companieshad 25% or more women executive officers and more than one-quarterhad zero.

Prior Catalyst research found that companies with more women intop leadership positions, on average, far outperform those withfewer. In addition, companies with more women board directors arelikelier to have more women corporate officers five years later.Gender diversity in the boardroom was also found to lead to bettercorporate performance. Companies with three or more women boarddirectors in four of five years, on average, outperformed companieswith zero women board directorsby 84% return on sales, 60% returnon invested capital, and 46% return on equity.

According to Ilene H. Lang, president/CEO Catalyst, it boilsdown to what companies do that counts.

“Particularly in today's challenging economy, stayingcompetitive in an increasingly global marketplace requirescultivating fresh perspectives and you don't get that byperpetuating an 'all of the same' leadership model. Catalystencourages organizations to step up and ensure that talentedemployees—regardless of gender—have opportunities to advance andcontribute. It's the smart thing and the right thing to do,” Langsaid.