A Clear Case for Action
2011 MWi Full Report
2011 ION Full Report
In 2003 Milwaukee Women inc commissioned a study of board and executive management gender diversity in the 50 largest Wisconsin-based public companies ("Wisconsin 50"). A census was conducted on all 50 companies to identify the gender composition of corporate boards and executive suites.
The research, entitled Diversity and Tomorrow's Profits: Women in Corporate Leadership, was released in May of 2004. The research set a benchmark and framework for monitoring the progress of women in corporate leadership within Wisconsin's largest companies. The report found that the progress toward diversity in Wisconsin's corporate boardrooms and executive suites was slow and left Wisconsin lagging behind regionally and nationally.
In 2005 MWi studied Wisconsin's corporate leadership again to further evaluate the impact of women and women of color within Wisconsin's corporate economy. MWi partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business to produce The Time is Now for Gender Diversity in Corporate Leadership.
Wisconsin's economy is composed of a disproportionately high number of successful privately-held companies in comparison to other states. The 2005 report offers new data solicited from more than 30 of Wisconsin's prominent private companies. These private companies have a significant impact on Wisconsin's economy. Research gleaned from this data helps to better gauge female representation within Wisconsin's top corporate leadership positions.
Our 2007 study, titled Missed Opportunities, found that about one-third of the Wisconsin 50 did not have a woman on their board and/or in their executive suite. While 26 new directors had been elected, only 4 were women and 3 companies actually decreased their number of women directors!
Of positive note, 11 companies had gained at least one woman director, which was double the number in the 2005 study. Of those, 3 had previously not had any women on their Boards and 14 companies now had two or more women directors, up from only 5 in 2003.
Results of These Studies
Diverse leadership brings valuable breadth of perspective to decision making. Research also supports links between diversity and good governance. It's time for CEOs to realize that gender and racial diversity within their boards and executive offices will help improve their companies' bottom line.
Wisconsin's business community has a unique opportunity to create a bright future through inclusion, and to become progressive leaders nationally by optimizing all of their talent ' male and female.
In a complex global marketplace a wide range of viewpoints, backgrounds, skills and experience is valuable in helping companies to make the right strategic and operational decisions.
The results of this study will encourage Wisconsin's companies to move toward greater diversity in their leadership ranks. Those companies will enjoy greater financial success and Wisconsin will benefit from a stronger economy and a more attractive environment in which to live, work and do business.
