This lack of women in the upper echelons of business has become a hot topic over the past years, driven to a head by the onset of the economic crisis in 2007 - a crisis that has in some corners been blamed on "excessive testosterone".

"The under-representation of women is a pressing theme in all societies and in every company," says Els Blaton, information officer at insurance and investment management company AXA Belgium. Together with Isabella Lenarduzzi of local women-in-the-workplace non-profit JUMP, Blaton has founded the Wo_Men@Work Award, which rewards business leaders that actively promote gender balance within their management structures.

The response to the launch of the award was beyond expectations, with more than 25 companies and organisations submitting nominations - an encouraging sign that gender balance is making strides up the strategic ladder in many companies.

An independent jury of experts from the public and private sectors selected three nominees: Frank Van Massenhove, managing director at FOD Social Security; Albert Ragon, general manager at Danone Belgium; and Marc Decorte, CEO of Shell Belgium. All three are fervent believers in the added value of gender diversity and have solidified their commitment by walking the talk, often in the face of resistance from within their own ranks.

Van Massenhove has affected a true culture shift within his department - based in Brussels - over the past two years; his management team today is a full 50% women. "An equal number of women and men throughout an organisation is good for both men and women," he claims. "As the company culture becomes more diverse, creativity increases. It's stupid for an organisation to remain as masculine as possible."

Ragon, whose groups in Brussels and Rotselaar market their products largely to women, agrees: "Gender diversity is not a project, it's a culture, an operating principle." Ragon also notes that young mothers are a seriously sidelined demographic in many companies. "Young mothers are extremely competent," he insists. "Their ability to make quick decisions, perform under pressure and multi-task make them valuable to the organisation. It is our role to ensure their chances of developing within the company remain intact."

Shell Belgium recognises the business case for diversity. "Attracting and keeping top talent is vital for business success," says CEO Decorte. "Recruiting and developing talent from a bigger pool strengthens the talent pipeline."

Online voting for the AXA Wo_Men@Work Award takes place until 2 December, and voters receive an invitation to the awards ceremony on 9 December

www.womenatworkaward.be