Recent statistics show businesswomen are climbing up the corporate ladder but are still far from reaching the top. Here are a few interesting facts, below.

• 20% more women are starting businesses as opposed to 10 years ago
• Women are pursuing higher education in record numbers.
• Women now hold more bachelors and graduate degrees than men.
• 40 percent of large corporations have zero women on their boards

What’s the reason for this gap?

Powerful businesswomen, as mentioned below, share their thoughts on what characteristics women need to embrace to help them rise in a business or organization.

Confidence

Arianna Huffington, president and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, says women need to boost their confidence levels, so they can grow in their careers. Women should envision themselves as leaders and risk takers.

Inclusivity

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and “Change the Ratio” blogger Rachel Sklar believe women should support each other, so others will recognize women as important stakeholders within their companies and organizations.

Knowledge

Sara Blakeley, the innovative founder of Spandex, says “it’s not just about what you know, but what you don’t know that can set you apart.”

Fact: The rate of which women are going to school to earn MBAs is at an all-time high. One-third of all MBA students are women.

So, ladies- we’re on the right path to advance our careers, but we still have a lot of work to do. If you’ve been thinking about going back to school or applying for that new job, now is the time to move forward. Check out the infographics below for more details. These infographics were created by the University North Carolina’s MBA online program, MBA@UNC.