2020 Women on Boards (WOB) is a national campaign to increase the percentage of women on U.S. company boards to 20 percent or greater by the year 2020.

The 2016 mid year report researched the board data of Fortune 1000 companies to determine how many women directors there were. The report provides statistics on whether women were on multiple boards and whether women in leadership positions create opportunities for more women to serve on boards. WOB discovered a broad pool of qualified women, evidence that they are helping other women, and the “Amazing Dozen” who serve on four or more boards.

Key findings

• Boards with female CEOs, board chairs, or nominating committee chairs are significantly more gender diverse than boards with male leadership.
• Of the Fortune 1000 companies with a female CEO or board chair, 88 percent  and 86 percent  of companies respectively have already met or surpassed 2020 Women on Boards’ goal of having 20 percent  or more women on the board. This compares to 42 percent of all Fortune 1000 companies.
• Contrary to popular belief, Fortune 1000 board seats held by women are not monopolized by an elite subset of individuals. Seventy-five percent of female directors devote their attention to a single Fortune 1000 company board, although many may also be on smaller company boards.
• Twelve women serve on four or more Fortune 1000 boards and come from a variety of professional backgrounds including law, politics, academia and non-CEO executive positions as well as the C-suite. This “Amazing Dozen” shows that there are a multitude of paths to the boardroom and that America’s top company’s value diversity of experience.

The Amazing Dozen 

Roxanne S. Austin has been the president of Austin Investment Advisors since 2004. Ms. Austin also previously served as president and chief executive officer of Move Networks, Inc., president and chief operating officer of DIRECTV, Inc., executive vice president and chief financial officer of Hughes Electronics Corporation and as a partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP. She is on the boards of Target Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, AbbVie Inc. and Teledyne Technologies Inc.

Charlene Barshefsky served as United States Trade Representative, the country’s top trade negotiator, from 1997 to 2001. She was the Deputy U.S. Trade Representative from 1993 to 1997. She is a partner at the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. She is on the boards of Intel Corporation; American Express Company; Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.; and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Nancy Cooper served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of CA Technologies from August 2006 until she retired in May 2011. Earlier, she served as chief financial officer for IMS Health Incorporated and, before that, for Reciprocal, Inc. She is on the boards of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, The Mosaic Company, Brunswick Corporation and Teradata Corporation.

Alexis Margaret Herman is an American politician who served as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. Prior to her appointment, she was assistant to the President and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Under Jimmy Carter, she was director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau. At age 29, she was the youngest person to ever serve in that position. She is on the boards of Coca-Cola Company; Cummins, Inc.; Entergy Corporation; and MGM Resorts International.

Donna A. James has been a consultant and has been president and managing director of Lardon & Associates LLC since March 2006. Ms. James previously served as president of Nationwide Strategic Investments. Ms. James is also the founder and chair of The Center for Healthy Families, a nonprofit in Columbus, Ohio, and the former president and appointed chair of the National Women’s Business Council. She is a non-practicing Certified Public Accountant. She is on the boards of Marathon Petroleum Corporation; Time Warner Cable, Inc.; L Brands, Inc.; and Boston Scientific Inc.

Cynthia Jamison is the former chief financial officer of Aqua Spy, Inc. Before that, Ms. Jamison was a partner with Tatum, LLC, and earlier, she served as chief financial officer of Chart House Enterprises. Ms. Jamison is currently a director of Tractor Supply Company, where she serves as chair. She is also on the boards of Office Depot, Inc.; Darden Restaurants, Inc.; and Big Lots, Inc.

Suzanne Nora Johnson is an American corporate lawyer and executive. Until 2007, she was vice chair of Goldman Sachs, chair of the Global Markets Institute, head of the firm’s Global Investment Research Division and a member of the firm’s management committee. She is on the boards of American International Group Inc.; Pfizer Inc.; Visa, Inc.; and Intuit Inc.

Susan Kropf served as president and chief operating officer of Avon Products, Inc. from 2001 until her retirement in 2007. She served as executive vice president and chief operating officer, North America and Global Business Operations of Avon from 1999 to 2001 and as executive vice president and president, North America of Avon from 1997 to 1999. She is on the boards of Kroger Company; Sherwin-Williams Company; Avon Products, Inc.; and Coach, Inc.

Linda Fayne Levinson was chair of Connexus, Inc. (formerly VendareNetBlue) from 2006 until 2010. From February through July 2006, Ms. Levinson was also Interim CEO of VendareNetBlue. She previously served as partner of GRP Partners, president of Fayne Levinson Associates, executive at Creative Artists Agency, Inc., partner of Wings Partners, senior vice president of American Express Travel Related Services Co., Inc., and partner of McKinsey & Company, where she became the first woman partner in 1979. Ms. Levinson is on the boards of Ingram Micro Inc.; Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.; NCR Corporation; and Western Union Company.

Anne M. Mulcahy is former chair and CEO of Xerox Corporation. She was named CEO of Xerox in 2001, and chair in 2002. Ms. Mulcahy joined Xerox as a field sales representative in 1976 and rose through the ranks. She is on the boards of Target Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, LPL Financial Holdings Inc. and Graham Holdings Inc.

Joyce M. Roche served as president and chief executive officer of Girls, Inc. from 2000 until her retirement in 2010. Earlier in her career, she was an independent marketing consultant; president and chief operating officer of Carson, Inc.; executive vice president of Global Marketing of Carson, Inc.; and vice president of Global Marketing for Avon Products, Inc. Ms. Roche is on the boards of AT&T Inc., Macy’s, Inc.; Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc.; and Tupperware Brands Corporation;

Patricia F. Russo served as chair, president and chief executive officer of Lucent Technologies Inc. and later as chief executive officer of its successor, AlcatelLucent. She has spent her career in technology industries, working with IBM, AT&T Inc.; and Lucent, among others. She is on the boards of General Motors Company; Hewlett-Packard Company; Merck and Co. Inc.; Alcoa, Inc.; and KKR & Co. LP.

Read the entire report at https://www.2020wob.com/sites/default/files/2020GDI-2016Report.pdf

Michele Wierzgac, MSEd, speaker and author, promises that you will leave her solution-driven keynotes and workshops with at least one passionate, life transforming, leadership tool – something that will change the way you seek out a solution and practically apply it without getting stuck.

Email Michele at [email protected] or give her a call at (708) 710-7055!