It is unacceptable that there is no gender or race diversity in corporate boards. A diverse board will help companies better reflect the community’s demographics and make better decisions. It will also improve their reputation. It is imperative that corporations and federal policymakers redouble their efforts to create equitable systems, identify and recruit talent, and restructure the selection process to increase diversity within American companies.
The primary focus of most board diversity discussions is the necessity of correcting a skewed representation of the company’s demographics. But the primary goal should be to find people with a broad range of abilities, skills and knowledge. Diverse board members can bring new perspectives to the table, challenge the status quo, and make more innovative decisions that will create long-term value.
You can make a decision to target recruitment using a combination of factors such as education, age and professional experience. For example, if your board is made up of those with a degree in engineering, you might be interested in adding a director with a background in marketing to help facilitate an broader discussion.
Some companies go as that they declare a public commitment to diversity. This is an excellent way to hold the board and management to account. You can also conduct a https://board.international/how-to-transition-to-paperless-board-meetings/ diversity assessment through your board portal and highlight areas where you should bolster your workforce.
