Just 8% of Irish companies currently have a female CEO, while women make up just 12% of board members in Ireland, it has been found.
However, according to the new research carried out by Ernst and Young and the Peterson Institute for International Economics, companies where 30% of the executives are women tend to be much more profitable.
Their study is being released to mark International Women's Day.
Niamh O'Byrne from Ernst and Young said the right culture must be created for women - such as providing maternity leave.
"Having this type of leave available does support there being more women rising through the organisation," she said.
"Statistically it's proving that we need to have the right type of support available for people, actually for both men and women to take leave when children are born."