These Companies Have Achieved Gender Equality at Board Level

photo credit: Tommy Ton 

The UN describes parity as between 40% and 60% of each gender in the workforce. And some companies, like Tupperware are leading the charge with 59% female workers. 

But the role of women in senior leadership positions (defined as the top 6% of a company) is not nearly as high. In fact recent reports released by Catalyst have shown that despite a call for equality in top-tier positions, men held 80.1 percent of S&P 500 board seats, while women only held 19.9 percent. "Although some US companies are prioritizing board diversity, building it into the fabric of their key talent decision-making, they still have a long way to go before women's representation on their boards and throughout their executive ranks is near parity with men," the report said. 

The way things are going, some predict it may be 80 plus years before we achieve equality at all levels of the workplace. But these companies aren't waiting around. They have made the push for equality now. 

1. GENERAL MOTORS 

GM made news when they hired Mary Barra as their first female CEO in 2014. Barra started 36 years ago as a co-op student at GM and became chief executive in January 2014. But they didn't stop there. 

They have also been slowly and quietly working toward board parity. The automaker made quiet, though significant waves in June of this year when the shareholders elected Jane Mendillo, the chief executive officer of the company that manages Harvard University’s endowment, to its board of directors. Notably, they did not release any press release about the achievement, letting it stand on its own. The 12-member board is now evenly between men and women.

GM isn’t the first company to have an equally split board, but it's one of the biggest names to do so.  

2. TUPPERWARE BRANDS

There's a reason Tupperware has landed on Forbes' most admired companies list eight years in a row. Chairman & CEO, Rick Goings, has been dedicated to promoting gender equality in business since joining the brand almost 20 years ago and has been urging other companies to do the same. 

"Say it ain't so: it may be 80+ years before we achieve equality at all levels of the workplace."

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In 2015 the company signed on as one of the first companies participating in HeForShe, the UN Women’s program in support of gender parity. Tupperware made a three-year, $500,000 commitment to the program. 

In January of this year Tupperware added Meg Crofton to the company’s board of directors, joining 12 other board members, including Goings. Five out the 12 seats are currently held by women. 

3. MICHAEL KORS HOLDINGS LTD. 

There may be more lauded male designers than women, but this is still fashion you can feel good about. The parent company of Michael Kors has 50% parity on its board of directors. Of the eight seats four are occupied by women.  

4. SELECT COMFORT

Leave it to a sleep solutions company to help up rest a little easier that board parity can be a reality. Achieved in March of this year, Select Comfort added two new female board members. 

Barbara R. Matas and Vicki A. OMeara now serve the board, effective as of April 25th, making for an even 50/50 split between male and female members.   

5. VOYA FINANCIAL 

Four out of 10 seats on Voya's board are occupied by women. According to the Wall Street Journal, "Voya Financial informally took this approach after the provider of retirement, life insurance and investment services went public in spring 2013 with a nine-man board. CEO Rodney O. Martin Jr. and another director soon interviewed male and female prospects."

Of the five open board seats, women took four of the. Mr. Martin told WSJ that he hopes the split will be 50/50 soon. "Our board should look a lot like our customer base,” he explained. “More women than men control family financial decisions.’’

6. GOLD STANDARD

Two S&P 500 companies, student loan company Navient and utility company American Water Works Company, have more women than men on their boards. Navient added five female directors in 2014 and now has six women on its 11-member board.

HONORABLE MENTION: BEST BUY 

Men might be known to gather around the TV for game days *congrats Cubs* but women fill up the majority of leadership positions at Best Buy. The Richfield-based company, and nation's largest electronics retailer reached a turning point April, 2016 when Trish Walker was hired to become president of services (which, includes the Geek Squad). Walker's hiring made for 6 out of 10 executives who report to Hubert Joly. 

Best Buy's board is not far behind. It is a focus and priority for the company, which added two new female board members this year. Currently four of the 11 seats are held by women. 

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#Breadwinners: Women Changing the Face of Top Household Earners

Today marks Women’s Equality Day. A date selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. Today also marks the launch of the first ever Breadwinners Campaign.

Breadwinners was conceived to highlight women who are redefining success-- women who are the primary household earners and who are changing the landscape and conversation around what it means to bring home the bacon.

The passion and project of Alisa Leonard, founder of Hello-Q, Leonard says, "The highest wave floats all the boats - as female Breadwinners we need to be that wave. I believe our greatest achievements can be to lift up other women, and in turn everyone."

"The highest wave floats all the boats - as female #Breadwinners we need to be that wave."

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Make no mistake. This is powerful. Female enfranchisement is no longer a demand, it’s a reality. And the female breadwinner is on the rise...

In 2013 the US Census released data showing that 40% of household breadwinners were women-- specifically mothers. According to a 2015 McKinsey report (Power of Parity), closing the gender pay gap and increasing opportunities for women would add $2.1-4.3 TRILLION to the US economy.

Women, like Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson who has earned her success through dedication and tireless work. “If it was easy,” says Johnson, “everyone would do it. Just know to keep moving, keep pushing forward and don’t be scared to ask for help.”  

Women like Jennifer Stith, VP of Bumble who says, “My entire adult life I have sought total financial independence. And though traditionally the term breadwinner has had a predominantly male connotation, today I know many couples with two people contributing as equals to the livelihood of their homes and families. In 2016, I don’t think a breadwinner needs to stand alone in a home anymore.”

A wise woman once told us, “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” Now you can do both. Our founder was featured, along with 34 other influential, game-changing women. Women entrepreneurs and executives across media, tech, art, finance. Those that run Fortune 500 companies and those at the helm of startups. There is no limit to who a #Breadwinner can be and we are committed to changing the conversation. 

We are proud to collaborate with Hello-Q on this initiative. View the full list of Breadwinners and check out their stories and follow #Breadwinners on Instagram! 

To participate in the #Breadwinners Project Survey click here. The #Breadwinner Project Survey is kicking off an ongoing research initiative into the needs and challenges of American female breadwinners. The mission of this initiative is to further our understanding of the rapidly growing female breadwinner population and use these insights shape innovative, strategic solutions for both the private sector and public sector that empower equality and inclusion for women in the work force. 

We are committed to driving innovative change that empowers women in the workforce. By taking a few minutes to participate in this survey, you are helping inform and shape that change. This survey was created in partnership with Hello-Q.com, Create + Cultivate and theTACTILE.co

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