Getting more women to the corporate boards

Even after several studies proving that having more number of women across the boards of companies would not only benefit the company but also the economy of the country, the number of women in charge in almost all companies across the world has continued to remain extremely low.

Not using half the available people in the talent pool of the country is causing a huge loss to the economy of the nation. Gail Becker, the Chair of Canada & Latin America and the President of the U.S. Western Region for global PR firm Edelman, feels that the companies in question should realize the importance of the traits women bring to the table and how they are all missing out on those qualities.

Another way in which companies may be losing out on revenue due to women’s absence on their boards is that women form half of the customer base in the country, without the insight of a woman most companies fail to understand half of their customer base. Committee for Economic Development (CED), US, in a report, further says, “The pull from the top can have powerful economic effects throughout the various strata of a company and overall society.”

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According to a report by Forbes, the percentage of women on the corporate boards in the US has remained roughly same in the last decade- 11%-17%. With other countries taking stern actions to ensure women participation at higher levels, the US government too needs to take some steps in the direction.

Considering there is an adequate number of qualified women in the country, what are the reasons, apart from gender disparity, that prevent them from coming forward? Women don’t self- promote. That is a huge reason for the absence of women at higher levels. Most of them don’t have sponsors to back them up. If these three steps are taken, then hopefully the future will see more women at decision making positions.

ORIGINAL SOURCE: Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/katetaylor/2012/06/26/the-new-case-for-women-on-corporate-boards-new-perspectives-increased-profits/