Geschlechterdisparität an der Spitze von Unternehmungen. Eine qualitative Untersuchung im Schweizer Bankensektor

Companies in Switzerland still face a scarcity of women in the executive committee, especially in CEO positions. Research has shown that there are various reasons for the very low ratio of female leaders in companies. Topics such as glass ceilings, glass cliffs, stereotypes, unconscious biases as well as gender in organizations in general have been studied in different international settings for many years. This dissertation aims to understand the gender disparity at the top of companies and focuses on Swiss banks by examining the life and career trajectories of female and male CEOs. To this end, the study uses the Bourdieu framework as a conceptual scheme and interpretative lens with its key constructs of habitus, capital and field and asks: What are the reasons for the acquisition of different capital in the various phases of life and what differences can be observed between women and men in this respect? How do gender-specific patterns of experience develop in the generation of capital, which is particularly relevant in a banking career? What significance does a specific habitus have in the process of CEO appointment in Swiss banks and how does a gender-specific habitus affect the number of women in CEO roles in Swiss banks?
This dissertation uses qualitive research methods. By questioning female and male CEOs of Swiss banks in semi-structured and open interviews, their life and career histories are examined and evaluated by means of qualitative content analysis. The key insights gained from this analysis are divided into three main areas. With regard to childhood capital accumulation, the results indicate that the intergenerational reproduction of gender differences in CEOs often originates in childhood experiences. The development of collective identities and social capital must be facilitated by taking into account gender differences in career and leadership development. Gender-specific and unequal patterns in the accumulation of capital play a role in the formation of the CEO habitus. Further research is needed to examine the life paths of CEOs in other industries in Switzerland as well as to study leadership development, particularly with regard to gender-specific experiences.