It is unacceptable that there is no gender or racial diversity in corporate boards. A diverse board can aid companies in reflecting the community’s demographics and make better decisions. It can also improve their image. It is imperative that corporations as well as federal policymakers concentrate efforts to create systems that are equitable, identify and recruit talents, and improve the selection process to improve diversity in American corporations.
The focus of many board diversity discussions is the need to rectify a misguided representation of the demographics of a company. But the primary goal should be to find candidates with a diverse range of abilities, skills and experience. Board members with diverse backgrounds can bring new ways of thinking to the table, challenge the status quo, and make more innovative decisions that will create long-term value.
Through a combination of variables, such as education, age, and professional experience, you can determine the categories that your board is not or over-represented in, and then target the recruitment process accordingly. For instance, if you find that your board is comprised of people who have a degree in engineering, you may be considering adding an executive with an education in marketing, to allow for the discussion to be more comprehensive.
Some companies make a public commitment on diversity. This is an excellent way to hold the senior management and board members accountable. You can also run an assessment of diversity through your board portal that will identify the areas that you should strengthen your workforce.
https://board.international/how-to-encouraging-an-effective-advisory-board/
