It is inexcusable that there is no gender or racial diversity in corporate boards. A diverse board can help companies better reflect the demographics of their communities, make better decisions with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, and improve their reputation. It is critical that companies as well as federal policymakers concentrate efforts to create systems that are equitable, identify and recruit paperless board meetings talents, and improve the selection process to improve diversity within American companies.
Many board diversity discussions are centered around the need to deal with a diverse demographic representation of the company, but the main goal is to identify candidates with a variety of skills, capabilities and experience. Diverse board members can bring new approaches to the table, challenge the status quo and take more innovative decisions that will create long-term value.
You can target recruitment based on a combination factors like education level, age and experience. For instance, if you find that your board is composed largely of individuals with degrees in engineering, you may think about adding directors with an education in marketing to enable an broader discussion.
Some companies go as far as making a public commitment on diversity. This is an excellent way to hold the board and senior managers accountable. You can also run an assessment of your diversity on your board portal, which will highlight the areas where you should bolster your workforce.