Reed Smith, in collaboration with WeAreTheCity, has launched ‘The Art of Success,’ a guide for women embarking on a career in the City of London. The report is based on the findings of a survey of more than 100 senior female leaders to find out what it takes to survive and thrive as a female senior leader in the City. Tamara Box, Reed Smith managing partner, Europe & Middle East said: 'As more and more women move into leadership, we are opening doors and creating pathways for each other by developing a business community where women and men are equal in their capabilities, their contributions, and, of course, their successes.'

Female leaders

Research found that there are certain characteristics that senior female leaders have in common. They are: ambitious, open-minded, have a strong work ethic, and, have had a mentor or sponsor. The findings also highlighted areas where improvements could be made: training, flexible working, and career breaks. The one topic truly dividing opinion is whether there a place for emotion in the workplace. The research found a 50/50 split between those wishing to rein in emotions and those who felt they should not hold anything back.

Part-time

Surprising findings included results that just one in five senior women have worked part-time during their careers and 41 per cent of women rated their work-life balance as good or excellent, with only 10 per cent rating it as poor or unattainable in their chosen career. Read the full report here