Globally, the majority of women in the early stages of their professional career aspire for executive leadership, but ambition drops at the senior level, according to the Leaders & Daughters Global Survey released today by search and leadership advisory services firm Egon Zehnder. However, ambitions for women at senior management levels drop considerably as they strive to reach the C-suite.

Findings from the Leaders & Daughters Global Survey highlight seven countries around the world – Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, the United States and the United Kingdom. The goal is to share global similarities between women at different stages in their careers as well as regional distinctions in the journey to leadership.

• Nearly three-quarters of women, 74%, at the junior and middle manager levels aspire to one day reach senior or executive leadership ranks within their organizations.
• Yet surprisingly, in almost all countries, ambition wanes for women at the senior manager level and above, and drops to 57% from 72% as reality sets in for advancement to the top.
• The level of ambition varies widely by country — with women in developing countries showing higher levels than counterparts elsewhere.
• Ambition is typically higher in developing economies, such as Brazil, where 92% of women aspire to reach senior or executive leadership ranks, followed by China at 88% and India 82%. This compares to the US, where 62% reported this aspiration, followed by Australia at 61%, Germany at 58% and the UK at 56%.

As seniority increases, women feel that promotions become increasingly challenging to obtain. They also see a greater need to overcome gender bias and stereotypes in the workplace.

• Overall, 49% of respondents believe that it is more challenging for women to be promoted to senior management positions than it is for men in their organization.
• This belief becomes stronger as respondents rise through management roles, with more than 60% of middle managers and above believing it is more challenging to be promoted.
• Regionally, gender bias in the C-suite is most strongly felt in India, where 33% of women identify the problem. Second is the US, where 19% of women at the C-suite level identified the issue.

2017 Egon Zehnder Leaders & Daughters Global Survey explores findings from over 7,000 professional female respondents worldwide in Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, the United States and the United Kingdom. The survey was fielded in February 2017 by Censuswide.