www.board.international/how-to-increase-corporate-board-diversity/

It is unacceptable that there is no gender or race diversity in corporate boards. A diverse board will help companies more accurately reflect the population metrics of their communities, make better choices that are based on a wide range of experiences and perspectives, and boost their reputation. It is crucial that businesses and federal policymakers focus efforts to create equitable systems to identify and attract talented individuals, and reform the selection process to improve diversity in American businesses.

Many board diversity discussions focus on the need to address a skewed demographic representation of the business, but the goal should be to find candidates with a variety of abilities, skills, and experiences. Board members with diverse backgrounds can bring new approaches to the table, challenge the status quo and take more innovative decisions that drive long-term value.

You can target recruitment by combining factors such as education level, age and experience. If your board is predominantly comprised of people with degrees in engineering, as an example, you may want to add the director with a background in the marketing field to facilitate a more comprehensive discussion.

Some companies even go as far as making an open commitment to diversity. This is an excellent method of holding the senior management and board members accountable. You can also conduct an assessment of diversity through your board portal and highlight areas where you should bolster your workforce.