The public call for increased board diversity from large investment firms such as BlackRock and State Street Global Advisors this year may have had some influence on the new influx of female directors.
After decades of boardroom conversations focusing on the importance of a wide mix of age, gender and ethnicity, progress on diversity has been sluggish at best.
For an organization to optimize its success it must be two things: uniformly focused on excellence and in active pursuit of diversity, starting from the top.
Most directors believe gender diversity adds value to the board, improves board performance and brings a unique perspective to the board.
In this episode, Michael Steib, CEO & director with XO Group Inc. and outside board member with Ally Financial, shares how boards and management should approach discussions of human capital.
Boards looking for support from BlackRock will have to place a priority on ESG issues and diversity moving forward.