Celebrating 15 Years

VIEW THE TIMELINE
DONATE

2020 Women on Boards Advances Goal to Gender-Balanced Corporate Boards With New Campaign Name and Vision: 50/50 Women on Boards

2020 Women on Boards Advances Goal to Gender-Balanced Corporate Boards With New Campaign Name and Vision: 50/50 Women on Boards

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — 2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB), the leading global education and advocacy campaign accelerating women to corporate boards, today inaugurates its bold new name and vision: 50/50 Women on Boards (50/50WOB), with women directors holding roughly half of all corporate board seats.

In 2010, 2020WOB set a ten-year goal for women to hold 20% of the corporate board seats of companies listed on the Russell 3000 Index. In 2020, women reached a historic 22.6% of the public company board seats. While this was an important milestone, out of the 2,982 Russell 3000 companies nationwide, our Gender Diversity Index (GDI) research revealed only five percent (154 companies) have gender-balanced boards. Additionally, one-third (1,064) of the Russell 3000 companies still only have one or no women on their boards.

2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) today inaugurates its bold new name and vision.Tweet this

“Independent research has long established that companies with gender-balanced and diverse boards are more profitable and productive, and the workforce is better engaged,” said Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, CEO of 50/50 Women on Boards. “ISS, Goldman Sachs, and now NASDAQ have reinforced what we’ve been saying for years: increasing gender diversity on boards is good for business and the economy.”

50/50WOB will continue to educate, advocate, and collaborate with corporations and individuals through its research, educational programs and events focused on the business imperative of women on corporate boards.

Partnering with Equilar, 50/50WOB will continue to release timely and topical research reporting on the progress of gender-balanced boards of the Russell 3000 Index companies, and corporations that report on the diversity of their boards.

“With great momentum, our new campaign name and brand identity represent a bold forward movement toward accelerating gender balance and diversity on corporate boards,” added co-founder and Vice-Chair Malli Gero. “So that when we tell women to reach for the stars, those stars are no longer pre-determined by a select few.”

“We define gender-balanced boards as women and men holding half of the seats; boards with an odd number of members will still be considered balanced if women hold one more or one less than half of the corporate board seats,” noted Stephanie Sonnabend, co-founder and board chair. “We applaud gender-balanced companies that are already trailblazing the effort, including Amazon, Etsy, Eventbrite, Exponent Inc., GM, iRobot, LendingTree, and Merck. Our Gender Diversity Directory will rate Russell 3000 companies for progress toward board gender balance, with a score of zero to three-plus for the number of women on the board, and “GB” when gender balance is achieved.

Today, 50/50WOB unveils its new logo and website redesign with targeted completion in Q1.

Additionally, in Q1, 50/50 Women on Boards will launch its “One is Not Done” campaign, boldly challenging companies with 0 or 1 woman on their board. Also, its popular Get On Board! workshops for board-ready women will span February to September, 2021. Its new program, Path to the Boardroom, for mid-career women will start in March, 2021.

About 50/50 Women on Boards (50/50 WOB)
50/50 Women on Boards (50/50WOB), a 501(c)3 nonprofit, is the leading global education and advocacy campaign driving the movement toward gender-balanced corporate boards. 50/50 Women on Boards analyzes, tracks and publishes its Gender Diversity Index (GDI) research reports online, available to the public, tracking the composition of women on corporate boards of the Russell 3000 Index, by board size, state, and sector. Educational programs produced by 50/50WOB include: the annual Global Conversation on Board Diversity; Get on Board! workshops for board-ready women; and Path to the Boardroom for mid-career women on how to become board-ready. For more information visit: www.5050wob.com.

Don’t Stop Here

More To Explore

Linkedin X-twitter Instagram Youtube Facebook

PREVIOUSLY 2020 WOMEN ON BOARDS

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Speakers include: Sita Lowman, Nithya Das, Suresh Sharma, Byron Loflin

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Speakers include: Gaby Sulzberger, David Cahoy, Rachael Coffey, Eduardo Gallego

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Speakers include: Titi Cole, Mia Mends

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.

Speakers include: Rodger Baker