Research states that adding women to boardrooms offers better governance and performance; that diversity in boardrooms and executive suites ensures complex problem-solving and generates sustainable innovative thinking.
So why are women still shut out?
On May 16th, Women Corporate Directors (WCD) a global organization of over 1,000 women directors representing companies around the world– held an invitation-only, inaugural meeting in New York.
In the announcement of the meeting, Susan Stautberg Co-chair of WCD states it will take courage and disruptive change to ensure the percentage of women on boards increases globally. At the meeting, the participants – corporate directors – reviewed current conditions and analyzed possible solutions.
There are more than a few challenges to address and many solutions to consider.
I would start with a mind-shift change on board qualifications and ask if these loftier-than-thou requirements are relevant to the challenges a board faces. For example, last month LinkedIn posted a board search with the following qualifications:
“Global Brand, Responsible for Profit & Loss, Make Tough Decisions, Oversee multiple billion revenue, and have extensive international experience…” (etc., ad nauseum)
The problem is the solution. And, begins with changing the questions and moving away from out-dated paradigms and mental roadmaps regarding what constitutes leadership and sound business acumen. Fundamentally, the conversation should examine opportunities, and the answers should come from the wisdom in the room.
When women and men are actively involved on boards, things will change… but not until. Stautberg suggests an astute revision for complex problems: How about tossing out the current analysis paradigm and re-thinking the model?
We need a change in perspective and more innovative thinking to find a workable solution. WCD’s Global Institute, with a phenomenal line-up of executives, supplies this thinking. But will need an innovative thinking method to challenge entrenched beliefs to solve this one.
