Explaining gender gap.In response to the Nov. 21 article, "Women Don't Make Climb to Top Rungs of Board Ladders," yes, we know that women are under-represented on boards of public companies. In the past year, the number of women on public boards actually has declined further. Just this month, Georgia reported another drop in the share of women on their top 100 corporate boards. But WHY? First, because boards themselves are changing. 1. Boards are getting smaller in response to Sarbanes-Oxley expectations. CEOs are being told to limit their board roles, boards are instituting age and tenure limits, and shareholder activist groups are insisting on fewer interlocking interlocking /in·ter·lock·ing/ (-lok´ing) closely joined, as by hooks or dovetails; locking into one another. interlocking Obstetrics A rare complication of vaginal delivery of twins; the 1st directorships. 2. Mergers and acquisitions among area firms, as well as firms leaving California for more business-friendly markets, are cutting back on California-based women on boards. 3. Boards at smaller firms have fewer board members because corporations just starting to work with boards need to take small steps in those directions. But why are WOMEN not pursuing boards of director roles? In many cases because women continue to believe too many myths about boards that simply are not true. When women on boards of directors, especially women on the NOMINATING COMMITTEES A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either of boards of directors, actively pursue more women on THEIR boards of directors, we know we will have begun to make real progress in this area. Elizabeth Ghaffari Santa Monica Santa Monica (săn`tə mŏn`ĭkə), city (1990 pop. 86,905), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1886. Tourism and retailing are important, and the city has motion-picture, biotechnology, and software industries. I wish to thank you for making our study on women on corporate boards front page news. The article should be a call to action for our local businessmen and businesswomen. Let's keep our focus on the positive and challenge the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. business community, which is on the forefront in so many areas, to step up and build a better ladder. The pipeline is full of women in corporate jobs, private practice and leading entrepreneurial en·tre·pre·neur n. A person who organizes, operates, and assumes the risk for a business venture. [French, from Old French, from entreprendre, to undertake; see enterprise. companies ready for board service. Call on us at the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners The National Association of Women's Business Owners (NAWBO) is an organization in the United States founded in 1975 that has the purpose of networking the approximately 10. to help in expanding your search. The report for next year should show improvement on the 7 percent female board representation. Fay Feeney Hermosa Beach Hermosa Beach (hûrmō`sə), city (1990 pop. 18,219), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1907. It is a residential suburb and a popular resort noted for its fine, sandy beaches and excellent surf. |
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