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The number of women directors appointed to corpo-
rate boards in the United States has increased dramati-
cally, but the ratio of female to male directors remains
low. Although pressure to recruit women directors,
(5) unlike that to employ women in the general work force,
does not derive from legislation, it is nevertheless real.
Although small companies were the first to have
women directors, large corporations currently have a
higher percentage of women on their boards. When the
(10) chairs of these large corporations began recruiting
women to serve on boards, they initially sought women
who were chief executive officers (CEO's) of large corpo-
rations. However, such women CEO's are still rare. In
addition, the ideal of six CEO's (female or male ) serving
(15) on the board of each of the largest corporations is realiz-
able only if every CEO serves on six boards. This raises
the specter of director overcommitment and the resultant
dilution of contribution. Consequently, the chairs next
sought women in business who had the equivalent of
(20) CEO experience. However, since it is only recently that
large numbers of women have begun to rise in manage-
ment, the chairs began to recruit women of high achieve-
ment outside the business world. Many such women are
well known for their contributions in government,
(25) education, and the nonprofit sector. The fact that the
women from these sectors who were appointed were
often acquaintances of the boards' chairs seems quite
reasonable: chairs have always considered it important
for directors to interact comfortably in the boardroom.
30) Although many successful women from outside the
business world are unknown to corporate leaders, these
women are particularly qualified to serve on boards
because of the changing nature of corporations. Today a
company's ability to be responsive to the concerns of the
35) community and the environment can influence that
company's growth and survival. Women are uniquely
positioned to be responsive to some of these concerns.
Although conditions have changed, it should be remem-
bered that most directors of both sexes are over fifty
(40) years old. Women of that generation were often encour-
aged to direct their attention toward efforts to improve
the community. This fact is reflected in the career devel-
opment of most of the outstandingly successful women
of the generation now in their fifties, who currently serve
(45) on corporate boards: 25 percent are in education and
22 percent are in government, law, and the nonprofit
sector.
One organization of women directors is helping busi-
ness become more responsive to the changing needs of
(50) society by raising the level of corporate awareness about
social issues, such as problems with the economy,
government regulation, the aging population, and the
environment. This organization also serves as a resource
center of information on accomplished women who are
(55) potential candidates for corporate boards.
