Conversations That Matter

Ep 455 - Women on Corporate Boards  Guest: Jennifer Reynolds By Stuart McNish   Here, it is 2023 and according to Forbes Magazine, only ten percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women. The magazine, however,  sees that ten percent as “a new milestone. While these numbers may not seem like a cause for celebration, they are when one considers the history of women achieving top leadership roles in business.”   The history of women at the top of Fortune 500 companies has included just two CEOs for decades. Forbes points out that “as recently as 2000, only four women led Fortune 500 companies.” Fast-forward to today and 53 women are in the top spot at those same companies.   Where to go from here? Is it a straight line to gender parity? In a Harvard Business Review study from 2006, “when there is one woman on a board, progress is difficult, but when three or more women are on a board, dynamics shift.” The question, according to the foundation Women Corporate Directors is, “How are these leaders effecting cha