2017年-德勤全球_Women_in_the_boardroom5th_edition_84页_27mb

Summary of Women in the Boardroom: A Global Perspective - 5th Edition

Core Content

The Women in the Boardroom: A Global Perspective - 5th Edition report by Deloitte Global provides a comprehensive analysis of the progress and challenges in achieving gender diversity in corporate boards across 64 countries. It highlights the slow but steady increase in the number of women holding board seats, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to promote inclusivity and diversity in leadership roles.

Main Points

• Global Trends:

  • Globally, 15% of board seats are held by women, up from 12% in the 2015 report, but still a modest improvement.
  • The report notes that the progress is uneven across countries, with some experiencing faster growth in female representation than others.
  • Countries such as Italy, Norway, Australia, the UK, and Canada have seen approximately 5% increases in the number of women on boards.
  • New Zealand, Belgium, and Sweden have experienced increases of more than 10%, 9%, and 7%, respectively.

• Key Metrics:

  • Total companies analyzed: Nearly 7,000 companies in 44 countries.
  • Percentage of board seats held by women: Calculated by dividing the number of women on boards by the total number of board seats.
  • Stretch factor: Measures the concentration of women on boards; a higher stretch factor indicates fewer women are holding multiple board seats.
  • Women on boards with female/male CEO or chair: Shows that companies with female leaders tend to have higher female board representation than those with male leaders.

• Top Five Industries:

  • The report groups companies into six industries: financial services, consumer business, technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT), manufacturing, energy and resources (E&R), and life sciences and health care (LSHC).
  • The percentage of women on boards varies by industry, with the TMT sector showing the highest female board representation.

• Deloitte's Perspective:

  • Deloitte continues to advocate for greater boardroom diversity, emphasizing the business case for inclusion.
  • The firm supports initiatives such as the 'Board Ready' programs to prepare women for board service.
  • Deloitte believes that diverse boards are essential for effective decision-making and that diversity should encompass various aspects such as age, ethnicity, and skill sets.

• Regional and Country Analysis:

  • The report includes a detailed look at the progress in different regions and countries.
  • It highlights the importance of transparency in data collection and analysis to identify and address barriers to women's advancement.

Key Insights

• Investor Influence:

  • Investors are playing a crucial role in promoting boardroom diversity.
  • State Street Global Advisors has taken a strong stance by voting against directors who fail to improve gender diversity.

• Corporate Governance Reforms:

  • In Japan, the introduction of the Stewardship Code (2014) and Corporate Governance Code (2015) has led to increased representation of outside directors, including women.
  • The number of independent women board members has grown significantly, though it remains low compared to other countries.

• Challenges:

  • Persistent unconscious bias and traditional gender roles continue to hinder progress.
  • Many boards still rely on a narrow pool of candidates, often overlooking qualified women and minorities.
  • There is a need for more inclusive recruitment practices and for boards to reconsider the criteria for selecting directors.

• Call to Action:

  • Boards must be more proactive in seeking diverse candidates and challenging their own assumptions about leadership qualities.
  • Companies should focus on creating pathways for women to advance in their careers, from entry-level positions to executive roles.
  • Transparency and data-driven approaches are essential for addressing the root causes of underrepresentation.

Conclusion

The report underscores that while progress is being made, it remains slow and uneven. Deloitte encourages continued advocacy from investors, regulators, and companies to accelerate change. The inclusion of diverse perspectives in boardrooms is not only a matter of fairness but also a strategic imperative for enhancing corporate performance and fostering inclusive societies.