In May 2011 Egon Zehnder International hosted four distinguished panellists and over 50 CEOs, HR Directors and other senior executives from across Asia Pacific for a discussion on the subject of developing women leaders in Asia, and how the involvement of women in leadership positions in Asian companies can be strengthened. Those present agreed that the business case for diversity is more or less taken for granted. China fares better than some Asian countries, and China’s rapid growth is good for women leaders. But the challenge remains, and flexibility is key to getting the most from women leaders. Most agreed that quotas are not the answer, but a “nudge” approach could work – those companies that try a bit harder to achieve diversity at the top of their organisations will likely reap commercial rewards for doing so: through added innovation, a closer understanding of their customers and access to a wider Asian talent pool.