We have been reporting on board’s gender diversity since 2009, and while progress has undoubtedly been made, the road ahead is still long. Linda-Eling Lee from MSCI’s Sustainability Institute tells us why we started compiling this report in the first place, and how it has managed to remain relevant in 2024. Then, our colleague Christina Milhomem tells us what the numbers say- what has or hasn’t changed, which regulations are coming our way- and why investors should think of diversity as an indicator of management oversight.

Having the right mix of skills, experience and perspectives at the top could make the difference between companies getting ahead or falling behind. In our analysis of diversity across boards, c-suites and executive teams, “diverse leadership” has begun to emerge. 

Have Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs worked for women? While these can help establish frameworks and goals, it’s less clear whether they actually have improved diversity.

MSCI’s Women on Boards report takes an annual look at progress on gender diversity on corporate boards since 2009.

Despite agreement on the value of gender diversity for companies, progress on that front has not been as rapid as it should be. We review the real-world impact of MSCI’s latest Women on Boards report findings, and what it may take to accelerate the pace.

The Nasdaq stock exchange’s new diversity rules will impose board-diversity disclosure requirements on Nasdaq-listed companies. These new rules may nudge companies to improve the diversity of the boards or risk facing investor pressure.

Violence against the Black and Asian American communities in the U.S. has put racial injustice in the global spotlight. But the lack of standardization in reported data on race and ethnicity has greatly hindered comparability.

With social inequality gaining prominence ahead of the 2021 proxy season, investors and other stakeholders are increasingly vocal about the need for greater diversity in corporate boardrooms. How successful have boards been globally?

MSCI ESG Research has reported annually on the state of women’s representation on corporate boards since 2009. In 2020, we saw a noticeable slowdown in the rate of increase for female representation on boards, up only 0.6 percentage points.