Catalyst, which describes itself as a "nonprofit organization with a mission to expand opportunities for women and business," is out with its 2013 Census, finding that:
• Women held only 16.9% of corporate board seats in 2013, indicating no significant year-over-year uptick for the 8th straight year. And only 14.6% of Executive Officer positions were held by women—the 4th consecutive year of no year-over-year growth.
• Women of color continued to fare particularly poorly, holding just 3.2% of all board seats.
• Ten percent of companies had no women serving on their boards; more than 2/3 of companies had no women of color directors.
• Women held only 8.1% of top earner slots—again no change from prior year.
Among the companies that are spotlighted by Catalyst as being more enlightened are Publix (where three out of nine directors are women), Target (four of 12 are women), and CVS Caremark (three of 11).
“It’s hard to believe that at the end of 2013 we still see more than a few all-male corporate boards and leadership teams.” said Catalyst president/CEO Ilene H. Lang in a prepared statement, referring to companies such as Supervalu, Susser Holdings, and Nash Finch, which have no women on their boards. “Diverse business leadership and governance are correlated with stronger business performance, employee engagement, and innovation. Shareholders beware: a company with no women at the top is missing one of the biggest opportunities in the marketplace today.”
• Women held only 16.9% of corporate board seats in 2013, indicating no significant year-over-year uptick for the 8th straight year. And only 14.6% of Executive Officer positions were held by women—the 4th consecutive year of no year-over-year growth.
• Women of color continued to fare particularly poorly, holding just 3.2% of all board seats.
• Ten percent of companies had no women serving on their boards; more than 2/3 of companies had no women of color directors.
• Women held only 8.1% of top earner slots—again no change from prior year.
Among the companies that are spotlighted by Catalyst as being more enlightened are Publix (where three out of nine directors are women), Target (four of 12 are women), and CVS Caremark (three of 11).
“It’s hard to believe that at the end of 2013 we still see more than a few all-male corporate boards and leadership teams.” said Catalyst president/CEO Ilene H. Lang in a prepared statement, referring to companies such as Supervalu, Susser Holdings, and Nash Finch, which have no women on their boards. “Diverse business leadership and governance are correlated with stronger business performance, employee engagement, and innovation. Shareholders beware: a company with no women at the top is missing one of the biggest opportunities in the marketplace today.”
- KC's View:
-
It is amazing that, in 2013, there are companies that do not have women on their boards or on their leadership teams. It is amazing that statements like "a company with no women at the top is missing one of the biggest opportunities in the marketplace today" even have to be made.
On the other hand, maybe not so amazing. Because we all know that there are boards out there where the chief purpose is to rubber-stamp the CEO's behavior and cater to his ego, and to line the pockets of the upper management without concern for front line workers. Maybe this requires and old-boy network … because many women coming into such a situation would challenge orthodoxy and ask all the hard questions.
