ADVANCING GENDER DIVERSITY IN MANAGEMENT THROUGH HRM PRACTICES
Anna-Maija Lämsä, Dr.Sc., Professor, School of Business and Economics, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
Minna Hiillos, Dr.Sc., Manager, HSE Executive Education Ltd, Helsinki School of Economics, Finland

Abstract
This study examines the possibility to promote gender diversity in management by applying appropriate HRM practices. Diverse groups have diverse needs with respect to work, and they want these needs to be recognized and met. Personal aspects can be of major importance in addressing gender diversity. We investigated women’s self-perceived career orientation by focusing on two groups of Finnish female managers: middle managers and small-business managers, and top managers in large companies. Women interested in a managerial career were found to have two important career anchors: pure challenge was a dominant anchor and balanced lifestyle a supporting anchor. Moreover, women in top management positions held general managerial competence as a crucial anchor. We propose that a combination of three career anchors – pure challenge, general managerial competence and balanced lifestyle – is likely to predict women’s interest to advance to top managerial levels.  
Keywords: career anchor, diversity, human resources management, management, woman