It has now widely been acknowledged that diversity is the need of the hour on corporate boards. This diversity is not just about race or ethnicity, but also about gender, as more women are needed at the very top. If one analyses the hierarchy of skills required at the board level, they may broadly be divided in to two categories. One is the IQ and hard skills, encompassing problem solving, finance and writing. But hard skills are superseded by EQ and soft skills. This involves coaching, management training, empathy, trust building, strategic influence and interpersonal communication. Women tend to have an advantage in the latter set of skills. The pace of this change has to be quickened. Board level women can also act as role models to a wider audience. It will also help stem the erosion of trust, now common to businesses.

Source:https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/women-chairs-the-time-is-now-11671

Uploaded Date:26 August 2019