Title: Women on Boards – 2013 Catalyst Census
Study: 2013 Catalyst Census: Fortune 500 Women Board Directors (Rachel Soares, Mark Bartkiewicz, Liz Mulligan-Ferry, Catalyst, 2013)
Finding: The number of women on boards in the Fortune 500 has not changed in the last 12 months.
Note about The Woman Effect Research Index: This study was performed by researchers not affiliated with InPower Women. Our Research Index includes all relevant research to the subject of women, business and power. We do not influence how the research was conducted or reported by the researchers. In our abstracts, we focus on pulling out the most actionable advice for individual women. To suggest additional research we should index, or discuss our choice of abstract focus, please contact us.
InPower InSight: Despite many programs in large companies intended to help women make it into top leadership ranks, the numbers aren’t changing.
Summary:
Here are the top line findings from this census report:
- Women held only 16.9% of board seats in 2013—no change from last year (16.6%).
- In both 2012 and 2013, less than one-fifth of companies had 25% or more women directors, while one-tenth had no women serving on their boards.
- Less than one-quarter of companies had three or more women directors serving together in both 2012 and 2013.
- Women of color held 3.2% of board seats, essentially the same as last year (3.3%).
To download the study from the Catalyst web site, click “source link” below.
Career Coaching Tip: Too many programs that are intended to help women learn leadership skills that will take them into the C-Suite and Boardroom are of little help because they isolate women instead of teaching them – along with the men they have to work with – how to run leadership cultures where everyone can benefit. This paradox means that for companies to move the needle they need to fundamentally rethink their leadership programs for everyone. Individual women who participate in Women’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) can help by developing programming “sponsored by” the BRG which are designed to enlighten women and men. Not sure what that looks like? Contact Dana!
Guide to Women in Leadership
Organizations with women in their executive suites regularly out-perform others. Yet rising female executives (and their mentors) are frustrated at how hard it is to break through the glass ceiling. In this extensive guide, Executive Coach Dana Theus shares her tried and true strategies to help women excel into higher levels of leadership and achieve their executive potential.
