All on Board! Strategies for Constructing Diverse Boards of Directors

36 Pages Posted: 5 Nov 2011 Last revised: 27 Oct 2015

Date Written: November 3, 2011

Abstract

A global business convergence exists, making international business easier and more mainstream. Over the last decade, social activists, academics, government agencies, shareholder groups, and other investors have argued for greater diversity in U.S. businesses, including making public company boards of directors more heterogeneous. Such heterogeneity may be based on education, experience, background, class, gender, race, or ethnicity, each of which can be categorized as either a "Modifiable Attribute" or a "Non-Modifiable Attribute." This Article argues that "board diversity" is necessary for U.S. public companies to remain competitive in the borderless global marketplace and that the U.S. should be the leader in and model for implementing "true" board diversity. Lastly, this Article presents practical solutions for creating diverse boards of directors.

Keywords: Corporate Governance, Boards of Directors, Corporations

JEL Classification: G34, K20, K22, M14

Suggested Citation

Butler, Seletha R., All on Board! Strategies for Constructing Diverse Boards of Directors (November 3, 2011). 7 Va. L. & Bus. Rev. 61 (2012), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1954173 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1954173

Seletha R. Butler (Contact Author)

srButlerco, Inc. ( email )

Post Office Box 278
Fairburn, GA GA 30213
United States

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