USA

Catalyst Charts Growth of Women on America’s Corporate Boards


NEW YORK – In growing numbers, women are pushing open the doors to America’s corporate board rooms and taking a seat at the table of the largest companies in the world. In the 2001 Census of Women Board Directors of the Fortune 1000, Catalyst found that women now hold 12.4% of all board seats in the F500, up from 11.2% in 1999 and 10.9% of all board seats in the F1000, up from 10% in 1999.

“Catalyst measures the number of women board directors because in business, what gets measured gets done,” said Catalyst President Sheila Wellington. “We have seen a 25.8% increase in the number of Fortune 500 companies with women on their boards since we started counting. Between 1993 and 1996 the number jumped from 345 companies with at least one woman on their board to 417. The pace the slowed over the last five years and there are now 434 companies.”

“If the rate of change remains constant in the F500, women will occupy 25% of the board seats by 2027,” said Wellington. “We have not cracked the glass ceiling yet, but women are slowly chipping away at it. One company and one seat at a time.”

Each year since 1993, Catalyst has conducted a census of the F500 to count how many women serve on corporate boards. Each census serves as a marker for corporate America of accomplishment and of work yet to be done. In this 2001 Census, sponsored by Sara Lee Corporation, Catalyst provides for the second time an expanded look at corporate governance in all F1000 companies. Last year, these companies employed over 29 million people and generated more than 8 trillion dollars in revenue.

“To recognize companies heading toward critical mass, Catalyst developed the Blue Ribbon Board. This is the list of F1000 companies having more than 2 women on their board of directors,” said Wellington. “Although slow, change is happening. In 1999 the Catalyst Blue Ribbon Board had 296 companies. This year the number has risen to 317 companies.”

Source: Catalyst, 2001.