Gender Diversity on Boards & Why it Matters
Written by Jeremy Barlow
A diverse board of directors brings a range of perspectives and talent that synergizes the board as a whole entity. Many important discussions take place on boards. It’s the differing perspectives of board members that lessen the potential for group think and lead to well-rounded decisions.
While the United States tends to take the lead regarding most things, it lags sorely behind when it comes to giving women a fair shot at landing a seat on a board of directors. Other countries have seen positive effects as they’ve increased the number of women on their boards. The number of women on boards is slowly and steadily increasing in the U.S., but the growth rate is still slower than other countries. While boards and investors are collectively pushing efforts toward greater gender diversity, the U.S. is a long way away from true gender parity.