"We need legislation to get more women into top jobs"

Article here. Excerpt:

'At a recent conference on gender equality, senior women agonised about whether quotas were a good or a bad thing.

But in private discussions later on, the overwhelming view was that quotas were needed because progress in gender equality remains very poor. This is not only in business but the public sector, politics and all other walks of life. The legal profession was singled out for special criticism, though there are same honourable exceptions among law firms.
...
Much more needs to be done. Initiatives such as the 30% club – chairs of organisations committed to achieving female board participation of at least 30% – are laudable and could make a difference. But overall progress in Britain is very slow. Foot-dragging in the UK is encouraging the European Commission's push to legislate in this area. EU directives would not be needed if national legislators took the need for fair treatment of women seriously.
...
One could dispute the way causality works – perhaps the companies that are already doing better are more relaxed about the risk on letting women loose on their boards. But more women makes economic and business sense.