Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Research and Practice

`This timely collection of case studies and research from top academics around the world, will be of tremendous value to all those engaged in bringing about greater gender diversity in corporate boardrooms.'
- Jacey Graham, Brook Graham LLP

`This book provides an excellent overview of contemporary international research and practice relating to women on corporate boards of directors. An important lesson learnt from this book is: rather than having only one or two competent and committed women on the boards of directors, an ideal number of three is not only "the right thing" but also "the bright thing" to do. Why? Research has documented a strong positive correlation between the share of board seats held by women and financial performance.'
- Martin Hilb, University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

`There are still common barriers that women face across many countries that keep their representation on boards of directors low and relatively unchanging. I commend this excellent, outstanding book to both academics and business management constituencies, as well as individuals interested in serving on corporate boards. The authors should be congratulated for this important contribution to the literature.'
- Marilyn Davidson, The University of Manchester, UK

This important new book addresses the growing international interest in women on corporate boards of directors.

The contributors explore the position of women on corporate boards and future trends in different countries including Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Jordan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Tunisia, the UK and the USA.

They go on to report the latest research on the experiences and different contributions made by women directors on corporate boards. Issues discussed include:

* How women directors champion difficult issues and debates
* How women influence boardroom behaviour
* The contribution of women directors' human and social capital
* Gendered experiences and the glass cliff
* The glass ceiling or a bottleneck?
* Networking to harness local power for national impact
* Women on board in best practice companies
* Whether critical mass makes a difference?
* Future directions for research.

Women on Corporate Boards of Directors brings together the significant international research base with suggestions aimed at individuals aspiring to board membership, women and men currently serving on corporate boards, companies interested in attracting women to their boards, and government bodies wanting to identify the challenges and opportunities facing them as they consider various options for increasing women's representation on corporate boards. This will also be an important book for academics interested in women directors, women's careers at senior levels in organizations and workforce diversity.