I was disheartened to read that female representation on U.S. corporate boards didn’t change much last year.
Women held just 19.9% of U.S. board positions in 2015, up a teeny bit from 19.2% the previous year, according to Catalyst’s annual survey.
Looking around the world, things are a bit better. In the U.K., for instance, FTSE 100 companies hit the voluntary target of having 25% of women on boards by 2015. As a result, a new target, set by an independent commission, has been established at 33% by 2020.
Thing is, the position of women on boards elsewhere in Europe and India has been helped along by diversity targets and quotas. No. 1 country Norway, whose corporate boards are 39% female, has mandatory quotas that come with penalties.
So U.S. companies should find a way to bring more women into the mix. After all, there is some evidence that it leads to higher profitability. And that’s tough to argue with.