Trump administration pushback hits US gender diversity efforts
Big US companies already appear less likely to appoint women to corporate boardrooms since President Donald Trump returned to office, representing a reversal from his first term (2017-2021) when senior businesswomen’s prospects relative to men’s continued to improve…
How to strengthen modern boardrooms at a critical time
Effective boards and directors are continually learning about the business and the context and are deeply engaged with stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the organization. There’s this really advanced level of inquiry and inquisitiveness, and making sure they understand the context within which they’re working….
The Board Value Index Are boards delivering on their potential?
Only 23% of US and UK directors believe their board is operating at its full potential, and nearly half (46%) say their board doesn’t add enough value to their organisation. Nearly a third of directors (31%) say their board adds no value at all – and half of that group believe their board is holding the organisation back…
83% of C-suite leaders with DEI policies say maintaining or expanding them is essential to mitigating legal risk
The vast majority (83%) of C-suite leaders say maintaining or expanding DEI is essential to mitigating legal risk, according to a survey……Another 68% of business leaders say that moving away from their DEI policies would actually impose more risk for their companies….
Risks of retreat: The enduring inclusion imperative
Given the significant legal and social risks of maintaining DEI work and the significant legal and social risks of retreating from DEI work, this report offers four practical recommendations for how leaders can assess risk in DEI programs, modify programs as necessary, align communications to their strategy, and maintain commitment even in the face of headwinds…
Position Paper Inclusion and Belonging in the Boardroom
Achieving equitable outcomes in governance requires more than diverse representation; it necessitates intentional inclusion. Inclusion ensures that all board members, especially those from underrepresented groups, have an equal opportunity to contribute, influence decisions, and feel a sense of belonging. Without this focus, diversity efforts risk falling …
Optimizing Talent and Culture for Better Returns
Since 2000, Fortune 1000 companies have paid $2.7B in litigation penalties across discrimination and harassment lawsuits based on gender, race, national origin, age, or disability on disclosed cases alone. Majority of verdicts…
Critical challenges for corporate board oversight of AI
Many boards initially assigned AI oversight to their audit or risk committees, reflecting a need to address risks inherent in the new technology. But as AI becomes more embedded in business operations, boards are reassessing committee ownership…
Time to Tell a Different Story
As a business operating on the front line of leadership, our daily interactions and insights tell us that the prevailing stories about women CEOs are sometimes different from those of their male counterparts. We wanted to dig deeper and better…
EU Directive on Women on Boards: Which countries have implemented?
The Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive (known as the ‘Women on Boards’ directive) entered into application at the end of 2024, aiming for a more balanced gender representation on the boards of listed companies across all EU…