GENDER EQUALITY IN CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: A KEY TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPETITIVENESS

Abstract

This paper investigates gender inequality in corporate governance in Croatia, where women hold only 19% of management board positions and 25% of supervisory board roles. Through qualitative analysis of secondary sources, the study analyses company-level practices, legislative initiatives, and theoretical approaches including Diversity Theory and Agency Theory. Case studies from Hrvatski Telekom, Atlantic Grupa, and Podravka illustrate progress at the firm level, while comparisons with the EU average (34.7%) highlight Croatia's structural lag. Despite the adoption of Directive (EU) 2022/2381, the findings indicate that declarative support alone is insufficient without enforceable mechanisms and cultural transformation. The paper concludes that achieving gender-balanced governance is essential not only for fairness but also for corporate resilience, sustainable development, and long-term competitiveness.