Women On Boards Program

Since 1985, The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) has been recognized for its efforts to encourage the appointment of more women to corporate and non-profit boards. The Women on Boards Committee leading the initiative works closely with TIAW member associations to share information on best practices, benchmarking, training and advocacy activities.

In doing so, TIAW acts as a central resource, supporting local initiatives by member associations by acting as consultants and providing best practice information. TIAW’s resources include a comprehensive tool kit that gives member associations a wide range of activities and initiatives that they may choose to implement as change agents in the local business community.

What is the purpose of the Women on Boards Program?

The TIAW Women on Boards program was designed to support member associations in their local efforts to encourage greater participation of women on corporate and non-profit boards. The key focus of the program is an on-line toolkit providing materials that member’s association can work from to create or reinforce their own programs. There are also links to research studies and a bulletin that is sent to interested association with updates on recent activities throughout the world.

Why is the Program necessary?

Women are still under-represented on boards of directors throughout the world. In the United States, one of the leading countries in this area, women represent only about 13% of board directors. That means 87% of board seats are still held by men, despite the strong participation of women at all levels of business. In many countries, the participation of women at the board level is almost non-existent.

If the current trends are not accelerated, it will be decades before women achieve comparable representation on corporate boards. Thus, TIAW is encouraging its member associations to undertake programs in the belief that raising awareness, measuring progress and facilitating connection between boards and women candidates will accelerate the rate of change and help women contribute at this important strategic level.

TIAW also aims to correct the misperception that the pool of qualified women candidates is small and to end the notion that only women who have been CEOs or who already serve on corporate boards are qualified and available. Although women have successfully competed at higher levels in the business community and the board candidate pool has expanded dramatically, these women remain largely unknown and untapped.

What are the key activities?

Advocacy: TIAW encourages member associations to meet with business leaders, government officials, search firms and women’s organizations to ensure there is strong awareness of the issue and that the business case for including more women on boards is well understood by key influencers. TIAW also shares ideas about events that can be staged to engage business leaders and provide exposure for women aspiring to sit on corporate boards.

Training: Helping women in member associations to fully prepare for successful board service Identifying key areas of expertise needed to become board directors and assisting associations in determining specific governance issues in their region, industry or country is another focus of TIAW’s information sharing. TIAW also helps associations find sources for training and information on directors’ responsibilities and liabilities, board governance, operation and trends.

Measurement: Some of our member associations are tracking the number of women on boards in their region, industry or country. TIAW assists associations by providing measurement models and methods that can be replicated locally.

Connection: An essential part of building awareness is to ensure that the women who are qualified and prepared to serve on boards connect with the CEOs and nomination committees who make board appointment decisions and TIAW’s toolkit contains activities to promote this connection.

What are the Program's goals?

TIAW aims to be a catalyst of change, to equip its member associations to make an impact on the number of women on corporate and non-profit boards in their respective regions and industries. The program also provides an opportunity for women interested in making change to become directly involved by joining the Women on Boards committee.

Board Candidate Identification.

The TIAW WOB committee refers organizations interested in finding qualified women board candidates to the appropriate member associations for recommendations or further referrals. TIAW does not conduct comprehensive searches for women board candidates.

The Women on Boards program is a TIAW initiative that connects to make all the difference in the world!

For more information contact:
Executive Director, mwestaway@tiaw.org  or 1-866-533-TIAW ( 8429)