The recognition that an increasing proportion of the workforce over the next decade will be women has important implications for corporate employers, not least in the area of leadership positions. Two types of women in organisations are defined – career‐primary and career‐and‐family – and it is asserted that if organisations are to retain their competitive advantage they must recognise the value of both types and provide a more flexible work environment. This will benefit both the individual and the employer. The individual will have freedom of choice between career or family, or a combination of both; and the employer will be able to retain a valuable resource – the talented women executives.