HEADWINDS AT THE TOP: ONGOING CHALLENGES FOR SENIOR-LEVEL WOMEN IN FINANCIAL SERVICES | 17 Headwinds at the top: Ongoing challenges for senior-level women in financial services Even women who reach the most senior levels often look back and conclude that their gender has hindered their advancement. Over half of the senior- Over half of the senior- level women surveyed—those who have reached the level of vice president level women surveyed or above—believe that they have missed out on opportunities because of believe that they their gender, compared to just 10 percent of their male peers. This inequity have missed out on continues for several reasons. opportunities because of their gender.