Over the course of the last two years, boardrooms have faced intense pressure to increase the diversity of their ranks, but much of the available data suggests that slow progress is being made in this regard. A recent survey of 3,000¹ of the largest publicly traded American companies found that in 2020, just 12.5% of board directors were from underrepresented ethnic and racial groups. Another survey highlighted that less than 1%² of the 5,000+ board seats in the Fortune 500 are occupied by out LGBTQ+ individuals.

For companies to drive board diversity, they need to take action. Boards need to lay the foundational building blocks for diversity by:

• Setting clear, achievable goals
• Re-examining recruiting processes
• Fostering an inclusive board culture

As the drivers become increasingly complex and the goals more urgent, Diligent can help promote and expand diversity at your organisation.