Is a failure to network keeping women from reaching the top?

Tuesday 27th September 2011, 2:29PM BST.

Michelle Johansen MANY women are ‘opting-out’ of finance or business careers before they reach the boardroom, according to the founder of the island’s Women’s Development Forum.

Michelle Johansen said more research had to be done on the reasons and added that it was not simply down to sexism or women deciding to have children.

New figures released by the Policy Council show that 723 more women than men work in Guernsey’s finance industry.

But Mrs Johansen (pictured) said the picture of women in business looked like a pyramid, with many working in administrative roles but only a few at board level.