McKinsey Demotes Partner Following Online Dispute Over Gender Issues

McKinsey & Company has demoted partner Chris Bradley from his director role at the McKinsey Global Institute after an online argument with feminist author Julia Carreon. The dispute arose from Carreon's post about the concept of the 'glass cliff,' which suggests that women and minorities are often appointed to lead struggling companies. In response to Carreon's comments, Bradley remarked that the theory allows individuals to always portray themselves as victims. Carreon, who co-authored the book 'Walking on Broken Glass: Navigating the Aftermath of the Glass Ceiling,' countered that Bradley's remarks undermined her work and the research behind the concept. Following the exchange, McKinsey conducted a review and decided to remove Bradley from his leadership roles, although he remains a senior partner. McKinsey spokesperson Taylor Burns stated that Bradley's public comments did not meet the firm's standards. The firm has a history of addressing workplace challenges faced by women and has published annual surveys on the topic in partnership with Sheryl Sandberg's LeanIn organization. Carreon highlighted the relevance of the 'glass cliff' in her discussions with Bradley and noted that his comments reflected poorly on McKinsey's values. Bradley did not respond to requests for comment.