How Women Impact Corporate Boards

I am thrilled to serve as the Quorum Initiative marketing and event coordinator, as well as to have the opportunity to write my first blog piece for our community.  Over the past three months, I have witnessed women take in valuable information on specific leadership skills and roles that will equip them to lead in the C-Suite and in the boardroom.  In November, Quorum held a panel discussion in New York and Washington, D.C. on the impact and influence women can have on corporate boards. It was clear that by the end of each event Quorum instilled in its members and attendees how to take the lead in roles that are predominately held by men.

I learned that the Quorum Initiative is more than an organization that talks about the lack of women in executive roles; it is an organization that will take action and push for change for all women leaders across corporate America, and beyond.  Peggy Foran, Chief Governance Officer, SVP and Corporate Secretary of Prudential Financial, who served as one of our panelists, made a notable point that diversity on boards adds value and more sophisticated boards understand the importance of maintaining that diversity for the companies they serve.  As I processed Peggy’s statement, it was evident that women in executive roles can indeed bring value and growth to boards by refreshing governance policies that will open doors for others.

So, where do we go from here?  How can we break the cycle and move forward to have more women on corporate boards and in executive roles?  Below, I have provided three key points from Quorum’s panel of experts that will help shift the conversation and impact diversity on corporate boards.

How to Impact Corporate Boards:

1. Encourage and support other women in and out of the boardroom by offering recommendations and opportunities.

“Gaining access to board service is all about relationships.  You need to know someone in the room and that’s why bringing women together is so important.” – Tara Giunta, Partner, Paul Hastings

2. Continue ongoing training and learn as much as you can to build suitable skills for executive and board roles.

“You must know how to read a financial statement to serve on a board.” – Gail Lione, Senior Counsel, Dentons

3. Know that our work is never done and we must continue to fight and break barriers.

“What matters more is ACTION; there’s more to do!” – Meg Sullivan, Chief Business Development and Marketing Officer, Paul Hastings, Co-Founder, Quorum Initiative