Employee Reactions to the ‘Threat’ of Female Leadership and the Backlash Against DEI
ONLINE MASTERCLASS
Thursday, February 5th, 2026
01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
How can you leverage sustainability to enhance your financial strategy and investor relations?
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Why does female leadership trigger resistance at work?
Masterclass presented by Prof. Isabelle Solal
Across many societies, men are increasingly portrayed as “falling behind” women in education, health, and employment. These narratives have been linked to the rise of strong-man leaders, online “manosphere” movements, and a growing backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
This masterclass reviews cutting-edge research to examine whether the (still modest) rise of women into leadership positions is experienced as a threat by male employees, and how such perceptions shape resistance, disengagement, or backlash within organisations. It also explores how organisations can reframe inclusion in ways that are credible, effective, and beneficial to all employees.
You will discover:
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How perceptions of threat shape employee reactions to female leadership and DEI initiatives | |
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The psychological and organisational mechanisms behind backlash against gender equality and inclusion | |
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Evidence-based strategies to reframe inclusion as a collective gain rather than a zero-sum game | |
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Practical insights for designing DEI policies that reduce resistance and strengthen organisational cohesion | |
Leave with a research-grounded framework to better understand employee resistance to gender equality, and concrete levers to design inclusion strategies that are both effective and sustainable.
Save the date
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Thursday, February 5th, 2026 | |
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01:00 PM - 02:00 PM (1-hour session) | |
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Online | |
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7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
7 550
étudiants en formation initiale, dont 38.32% d’étudiants internationaux
Header Level 2
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- Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
- Aliquam tincidunt mauris eu risus.
Header Level 2
Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus et malesuada fames ac turpis egestas. Vestibulum tortor quam, feugiat vitae, ultricies eget, tempor sit amet, ante. Donec eu libero sit amet quam egestas semper. Aenean ultricies mi vitae est. Mauris placerat eleifend leo. Quisque sit amet est et sapien ullamcorper pharetra. Vestibulum erat wisi, condimentum sed, commodo vitae, ornare sit amet, wisi. Aenean fermentum, elit eget tincidunt condimentum, eros ipsum rutrum orci, sagittis tempus lacus enim ac dui. Donec non enim in turpis pulvinar facilisis. Ut felis.
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Jane Doe
Job Position at Company Name
Jane Doe
Job Position at Company Name
Jane Doe
Job Position at Company Name
Jane Doe
Job Position at Company Name
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Professor - Speaker
Isabelle Solal is an Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship and Organizational Behavior at ESSEC Business School. Her research examines the mechanisms that generate inequality in labor and financial markets, with a particular focus on how gender shapes the interpretation of ambiguous signals, career outcomes, and organizational practices, including the unintended effects of diversity initiatives. Using archival data and laboratory experiments, she studies these dynamics in contexts such as high-growth entrepreneurship, top-level management, and scientific teams. Prior to joining academia, she worked as an attorney specializing in investment disputes and sports law, as well as a management consultant. She holds a PhD in Management and an MBA from INSEAD, and law degrees from King’s College London, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne, and the College of Europe.
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