Recent research by leading international training and diversity consultancy, Aquitude shows that 70% of women have experienced stereotyping in business. The results have prompted a new survey which will investigate the whether women who leave the corporate world are doing so to have children, or as is increasingly the case, to set up there own businesses.

Initial research shows that women who leave large companies are not less ambitious, but are in fact taking risks and becoming entrepreneurs. In many cases, these women are taking on these challenges on top of any additional caring responsibilities of motherhood…

Aquitude is inviting professional women who have left the corporate world to embark on an entrepreneurial or portfolio career to contribute to the project.

Christina Ioannidis, CEO of Aquitude, says:

“Whether in Shanghai, Austin, Bangalore or Paris, we want to hear the voices of women worldwide who have made the transition from their corporate professions to become entrepreneurs or run a portfolio career.

I have spoken to women all over the world who are increasingly leaving ‘safe’ careers in large companies to take control of their own work-life. Many of the anecdotes I have been told are from countries and cultures where stereotypes about women are completely the opposite of being risk-taking and entrepreneurial.

This new survey is to dig deeper into some of those stories to really break the gender stereotypes.”

The survey aims to investigate:

1. Why women are leaving the security of their full-time jobs to either become entrepreneurs or run a portfolio career

2. What are the pull factors that drive women into entrepreneurship

3. Any cultural and structural challenges in the corporate world that make caring obligations and career development incompatible

4. What companies can learn from their former female talent to make their cultures more engaging.

Take the survey here.

Or forward this to anyone who you think can contribute.