Women actually move up the leadership ladder faster in developing nations than they do in such established economies as the United States and Canada. And in those western nations, unless conditions change, women will likely either lose ground in their effort to reach the C-Suite, or stand pat over the next decade.

This forecast comes from a Mercer study that analyzed data from organizations representing 1.7 million workers globally, 40 percent of whom were women.

"Women, who continue to be underrepresented at most levels in the workforce, are not progressing in their careers despite the past two decades of organizational efforts to achieve gender diversity and equality," Mercer reported in a summary of the results of "When Women Thrive, Businesses Thrive."