There's always the debate about the role women play in companies. It was reported recently that the German company Deutsche Telekom is planning to have 30 percent of women holding management positions by the year 2015. The car company Daimler is also steering in the direction of increasing women in top positions to 20 percent by the year 2020.

In Germany women out perform the men by achieving higher grades at Universities and yet women still haven't been hitting the grade in the work place. In the top 30 companies in Germany, one lady has made her mark, Barbara Kux. Barbara is the only woman on the board of any of the DAX listed companies.

A great boost to help women climb the managerial ladder will come in the form of a program that will give support to women with families.

It is interesting and fair to say that Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has made her mark by doing a good job and making tough decisions and is it significant that it is during her watch that women are now being promoted in business, given that during the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, no great progress was made. I believe this to be a sign of the times.

Across the world companies are following the trend. The Ministry of Women's Affairs in New Zealand reports that women directors can help companies gain competitive advantage and increase profits and that companies that have women on their boards outperform those that do not. Hon Pansy Wong is the Minister of Women's Affairs.

In Norway many Norwegian corporations are required by law to have a minimum of 40 percent women on their boards. The Norwegian government states "A better balance between the sexes will secure improved utilization of women's qualifications, which in turn will lead to better strategic decision-making and enhanced profitability,"

The Australian Greens also want to follow in the footsteps of Norway. At the moment within the top 200 Australian companies, only 2 percent are chaired by women. Sarah Hanson-Young who is the Greens senator, says "that's not good enough".

In France there has been a new legislation submitted to the French parliament where by 2015 50 percent of board members will be women. Christine Lagarde, French finance minister, told ForbesWoman in an interview earlier this year: ''There should be determined action to include more women in power positions. I didn't used to think it would require legislation or preferential treatment to advance women but I've changed my view because otherwise it's going to take too long.''

Gordon Brown, the present UK Prime Minister has said, and I quote: "It is totally unacceptable that some of the U.K.'s top companies don't have a single woman among their directors." His government plan reform to change the present situation.

And finally, in the US, 15 percent of board members of the Fortune 500 companies were women. Carly Fiorina was the first woman to lead a Fortune 20 company. It seems a great deal more work needs to be done.

I searched for a who's who of the top business women and I found this list of 50 most powerful women in the world. And this was put together by a man.

An interesting read is the McKinsey & Company report : Women Matter

The opportunities are happening but why has it taken so long? Are women able to command a little more as a result of the recent world economy meltdown when it reached crisis point and it is a case of all hands to the deck... including women or is it a case of women who have been waiting and watching in the wings, are now saying 'Time for change...' Times are changing and women are voicing and are being heard. As doors shut on a predominantly male business world,  they are being flung open for women to enter. Is this just a sign of the times or is long needed change finally here. Challenge me!