NACD Convenes Group to Move the Needle: Diversity and Women in the Boardroom as a Strategic Business Imperative

More Than 120 Corporate Directors and Executives Attend NACD Forum in New York City to Reinforce the Importance of Strong, Diverse Corporate Boards of Directors

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National Association of Corporate Directors

Sep 22, 2011, 09:30 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Highlighting their ongoing commitment to advance diversity in the boardroom, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and PwC co-hosted more than 120 corporate leaders to discuss opportunities for women in the boardroom on September 15 in New York City. The forum was the latest step in NACD's efforts to increase diversity in boardrooms across Corporate America.

"NACD is absolutely for diversity, absolutely for women on boards, and that's why we're here," said keynote speaker Barbara Hackman Franklin, chairman of NACD, director of Aetna, Dow Chemical and American Funds, and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce. "In order for boards to fulfill their mission and act as an effective, independent overseer of management, they must incorporate a range of perspectives and voices. NACD is asking all boards to make diversity a top priority because we know that business success depends on it."

The forum included a panel discussion on business challenges facing directors today, moderated by PwC's Mary Ann Cloyd, and a panel on the specific challenges facing women in the boardroom, moderated by Catherine Bromilow from PwC. There were also peer exchanges facilitated by members of the NACD Advisory Council on Diversity: Women in the Boardroom, and time dedicated explicitly to networking, as many attendees reiterated that these connections are invaluable to furthering NACD's diversity goals.

"NACD views diversity broadly—through the lenses of skill sets and experiences, from the perspectives of thought, background and communication style. Diverse insights are essential components to exemplary board performance," said Ken Daly, president and CEO of NACD. "At a time when companies are facing more challenges than ever before, having a wide range of opinions is crucial to developing innovative corporate strategies. We are grateful to our friends at PwC's Center for Board Governance for their support and contribution to this event."

The action-oriented meeting focused on defining next steps for NACD and four specific stakeholder segments—boards, women directors, institutional investors and search firms. To help move the needle particularly on women's advancement in the boardroom, some consensus was reached by leading and prospective directors who attended the meeting. Based on the premise that securing your first, or next, public company board seat is a combination of what you know and who you know, the following five themes were woven through the dialogue:

1. Network – Meet with influential directors, fellow board members and management, including CEOs and the chairs of nominating/governance committees which oversee board composition.
a. Attend NACD conferences and forums such as:
i. NACD's annual conference in Washington, DC, October 2-4
1. See www.NACDonline.org/Conference for details
ii. NACD's Directorship 100 forum in New York City, November 8-9
1. See www.NACDonline.org/Directorship100 for details
b. Attend NACD chapter meetings throughout the year
2. Demonstrate your commitment to boardroom excellence and participate in boardroom education programs throughout the country and increase your personal value as a director.
a. Programs such as those mentioned above and
b. Become an NACD Fellow
i. See www.NACDonline.org/Fellowships
3. Encourage boardroom renewal. Realize that both age and term limits have increased over the past few years, so board seats are not opening for new board candidates as frequently.
a. Boards and search firms should expand their pools for candidates and broaden the definition of the ideal director
b. Consider using NACD's Directors Registry® for high-quality candidates
i. See www.NACDonline.org/DirectorsRegistry
4. Study companies' proxy statements and explore their diversity policies in public disclosures.
5. Go after a new board seat with the same fervor and rigor as a new-job search.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the only membership organization delivering the information and insights that corporate board members need to confidently confront complex business challenges and enhance shareowner value. With more than 11,000 members, NACD advances exemplary board leadership. NACD is focused on creating more effective and efficient boards through director-led education and peer forums to share ideas and leading practices based on more than 30 years of primary research. Fostering collaboration among directors and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To join, please contact Kelly Dodd at [email protected] or 202-380-1891.

About the PwC Network

PwC firms provide industry-focused assurance, tax and advisory services to enhance value for their clients. More than 161,000 people in 154 countries in firms across the PwC network share their thinking, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice. See www.pwc.com for more information.

Contact:
Henry Stoever, Chief Marketing Officer
National Association of Corporate Directors
202-775-0509

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors