The UC Davis Graduate School of Management in partnership with the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives publishes the annual "UC Davis Study of California Women Business Leaders: A Census of Women Directors and Executive Officers."
Our fifth annual study details the presence of women at the very top of the 400 largest publicly held corporations headquartered in the state. Our findings paint a disappointing picture of female representation on the boards and in the executive suites of these high-profile companies.
It's clear that women continue to be an untapped resource. The same innovative thinking that drives the world's eighth largest economy is not propelling women into top leadership positions at the largest public companies in the Golden State.
(published Nov. 19, 2009)
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Women hold only 10.6% of the board seats and top executive officer positions, down slightly but virtually unchanged from last year's 10.9%.
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118 (29.5%) of California’s 400 largest public companies have no women board directors and no women executive officers.
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Only 15 of these 400 companies have a woman CEO.
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The Bay Area has the county with the greatest percentage of women directors, San Francisco County (15.7%), as well as the county with the least: Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County, 8.2%).
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Based on
a report by KLD and Newsweek magazine which ranked the largest 500 U.S.firms on the basis of the extent to which they pursue environmentally friendly policies, our preliminary analysis shows that firms that include women among their top managers and directors may exhibit superior social performance compared to those run exclusively by men.
Read more.
UC Davis Graduate School of Management and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives have partnered to join ION, the InterOrganization Network. ION is a consortium of 13 regional organizations in the U.S. that advocate that advocate for the advancement of women to positions of power in the business world, especially to boards of directors and executive suites of public companies. These organizations, often in collaboration with a university partner, publish annual census reports on the status of women directors and executive officers in public companies in their respective geography.
Other ION members:
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Forum for Women Entrepreneurs & Executives (FWE&E) - FWE&E is the definitive community for professional women leaders in the San Francisco Bay area. It connects exceptional women leaders with people and ideas that enhance their impact on the world. For women who have achieved professional success, FWE&E expands horizons and perspectives by facilitating collaboration and fostering deep connections between members.
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State of California Commission on the Status of Women - Established in 1965, the only state agency specifically dedicated to protecting the interests of California women. The commission works to ensure that women have equal rights and opportunity and that enacted legislation does not discriminate against women or otherwise undermine their status or their opportunities.
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Catalyst - A national research and advisory organization working with businesses and the professions to build inclusive environments and expand opportunities for women at work.
