More Women on Boards: Will You Become One of Them?

A study from the Peterson Institute for International Economics affirms that "Going from having no women in corporate leadership to a 30% female share is associated with a one percent increase in net margin, which translates to a 15% increase in profitability for a typical firm."


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This information is repeated and reaffirmed by many scientific studies. In her Forbes article, Susan Adams leads with: "The companies that perform best financially have the greatest numbers of women in leadership roles."

But she also states that there is evidence that the confidence gap is one of the biggest factors holding us back. That we do not believe in ourselves or put ourselves forward in the same way that men do.

In Susan's article, she refers to studies where executive women score or rate themselves lower than men rate themselves even when their peers (male and female) rate the women as better leaders.


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Women leaders rising in the executive ranks of companies large and small are stretching the old mold of how we do business. We think differently and have different backgrounds and life stories than men. We tend to think more about others and the impact that the actions of the company will have long-term on people and the planet.

According to this study done at the University of Texas at Austin, women bring much needed new skill sets that may have been missing or underrepresented in leadership roles including board positions.

So, what gives?

Does business need to change the way it does business to be more open for more women on boards?

Or is it us?

Are we sitting around like wallflowers waiting to be invited to the dance?

Are we conflicted about taking on more responsibility?

Are we programmed to think that we are not as good?

Join this conversation with Women in Technology International: The Strategic Advantage of Women on Boards, a panel discussion networking event in Boston on March 21 at SnapApp.

Register here to get on board with your leadership development!

Teri Baydar is a leadership development coach working with individuals who seek to step up to the next level in their organizations and communities. She provides a coaching and training program that puts personal development back into leadership development. She believes that developing whole human beings creates effective leaders for a better world.

Learn more about Teri at whitelilycoaching.com.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.