WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the advocate for the profession of directorship, kicked off its 2015 Global Board Leaders’ Summit on Sept. 26 with NACD’s first-ever Diversity Symposium. With more than 3,800 women members located in more than 40 countries, NACD represents the largest network of female directors in the world.
The event featured four sessions led by directors and diversity experts that included, among others,
- The Hon. Cari M Dominguez, director of the ManpowerGroup, Triple-S Management, the Calvert SAGE Fund, and NACD;
- Robert Gulliver, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of the NFL;
- Caroline Tsay, vice president and general manager at Hewlett-Packard Co. and a director of Rosetta Stone Inc. and Travelzoo; and
- Judith Williams, global head of diversity at Dropbox and the former manager of global diversity and talent programs at Google.
“While the Diversity Symposium was the first program of its kind at our annual summit, NACD has been championing diversity in the boardroom for years,” said Erin Essenmacher, NACD Chief Programming Officer. “Many studies have demonstrated that companies gain a competitive business advantage when the perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of the directors around the table align with the company's long-term strategic goals.”
Findings from NACD’s recently released 2015–2016 Public Company Governance Survey show that board turnover continues to increase. Seventy-two percent of survey respondents indicated that their board added or replaced at least one director during the past year, compared to 64% of respondents to the 2014–2015 survey.
The measurable benefits of recruiting director candidates from the largest possible talent pool can provide a catalyst to driving boardroom discussions about diversity. The symposium sessions explored different ways to overcome the structural, social, and behavioral barriers to board diversity:
- Overcoming Unconscious Bias – Symposium attendees experienced first-hand how unconscious biases can impede their decision-making.
- Beyond the Sidelines: The Impact and Legacy of the Rooney Rule – NFL executives and sports law experts examined the Rooney Rule, its impact on the NFL, and the lessons it offers to all companies and boards.
- How to Make a 21st-Century Board – Panelists recommended employee recruitment tactics that boards can use to find the next generation of talent.
- Identifying Obstacles to Board Diversity – Participants discussed ways to implement specific recommendations from the Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on the Diverse Board.
To learn more about NACD’s board diversity initiative, visit www.NACDonline.org/Diversity.
Directors looking to jump-start the diversity conversation in their own boardrooms can download the NACD Diversity Discussion Guide at www.NACDonline.org/DiversityDiscussion.
To download the Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on the Diverse Board: Moving from Interest to Action, go to www.NACDonline.org/DiversityBRC.
To download the 2015–2016 NACD Public Company Governance Survey, go to www.NACDonline.org/PublicSurvey.
About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the advocate for the profession of directorship and is focused on advancing exemplary board leadership. Informed by more than 35 years of experience, NACD delivers insights and resources that more than 16,000 corporate director members rely on to make sound strategic decisions and confidently confront complex business challenges. NACD provides world-class director education programs, national peer-exchange forums, and proprietary research to promote director professionalism, ultimately enhancing the economic sustainability of the corporate enterprise and bolstering stakeholder confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To become an NACD member, contact Kelly Dodd at kkdodd@NACDonline.org or 202-380-1891.