HONG KONG, Sept. 5, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harvey Nash, the leading Executive Search firm and The University of Hong Kong, Executive Education of the Faculty of Business and Economics, have announced the second installment of The Women's Directorship Programme (WDP) is to be held in Hong Kong in February and March 2014. The international board preparedness programme is exclusively aimed at women, created in answer to the worldwide business community's call to tackle the existing gender imbalance in boardrooms.
More companies across the globe are starting to recognise the competitive advantage of having a gender balanced board. A more diverse board serves to better represent the interests of shareholders and stakeholders and is proven to result in greater business success. But with less than 10% of women represented at board level positions internationally, progress is slow.
Harvey Nash and Executive Education of the Faculty of Business and Economics created the certificated Women's Directorship Programme in early 2013 with a view enabling participants to be more effective at managing boards, and serves to increase the supply of board-ready women executives across geographies and business sectors.
Only two months after the completion of the inaugural programme, 30% of participants now hold board positions or have achieved a promotion.
Nick Marsh, Managing Director, Harvey Nash Asia Pacific said: "Board diversity is an essential ingredient for continued growth and business success. WDP has proved to be a positive catalyst in empowering the next generation of women leaders to gain the confidence and skills needed to secure a board position."
The programme has two core components – world class teaching by international faculty members of Hong Kong University and real life case studies and thought leadership delivered by senior business leaders. This year's guest speakers include Sir Roger Carr, Chairman of BAE Systems; Donald Brydon, Chairman of Sage Group and Royal Mail; Susan Gilchrist, CEO of Brunswick Group; Ruth Markland, Senior INED of Standard Chartered Bank and Arcadis, Anne Minto, INED of Shire and Tate & Lyle, John Rice, Vice Chairman of GE and Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Chairman & CEO of Schneider Electric.
The 2014 programme will include five modules, taught over two three-day sessions (February 13-15 and March 20-22, 2014). For further information http://www.wdpglobal.com/
Full press release - http://www.wdpglobal.com/news-and-information/women-directors-drive-business-growth.asp