Women in Technology (WIT), a leading organization contributing to the success of professional women in the DC metro area’s technology community, has released its second research report, “Women Board Directors in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.” The study was conducted by American University’s Kogod School of Business.
The report exposes the continuing void of women board members in local, publicly traded companies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and this year expands on the 2010 report to include the state of Maryland.
“The statistics show the truth – Washington metro area companies are missing the diversity of thought, creativity and potential financial benefit of having enough talented women on their boards,” said Nancy Lamberton, President, WIT. “Through The Leadership Foundry, we hope to raise awareness around this issue, advocate for more women on boards in our region and offer boardroom training skills and mentorship to women devoted to having a voice in the boardroom.”
Some key findings of the report this year are that more than 37 percent of companies in the region do not have women board members, women hold only 10 percent of the total 2,115 public company board seats in the region, 94 percent of Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. companies do not achieve the “critical mass” of three or more women board members, and for companies with one woman director, the women represent only 10 percent of the total board composition.
Launched last year, WIT is once again offering The Leadership Foundry to help women leaders serve on corporate boards, and it will give senior women executives the opportunity to have intensive board training sessions, access to the knowledge of a steering committee of experienced industry leaders, and network with organizations looking to recruit.
Led by Julie Bloecher, The Leadership Foundry committee member, research was conducted by Lina Rojas and Meredith Kirchheimer at the Kogod School of Business, under the guidance of faculty research sponsor Jill Klein.
On December 12th, WIT and The Leadership Foundry will be joining forces with Women on Boards 2020 to host a luncheon and discuss the report findings in more detail.
To take a look at the report or for more information, go here.
