A gender equity conference being held in Auckland today will highlight the importance of women having someone to help push through the glass ceiling at work.

A number of big female names in the workplace will be speaking, including Partners Life managing director Naomi Ballantyne.

She told Kate Hawkesby women need champions at work.

"I want this woman to go a long way, I'm going to do everything I can to support her to do that, if she happens to have a family we're going to work to make that work for her so we can get the best out of her."

She says there are a few reasons why women hold just 29 percent of management positions.

"I think it's ingrained, historical positioning of men in management positions which we are now tackling."

Ballantyne says it could also be due to women not seeing themselves in those positions or deciding it's not for them.

She says having diversity in the work place makes an enormous difference to how successful businesses are.

LISTEN TO NAOMI BALLANTYNE TALK WITH KATE HAWKESBY ABOVE