The absence of racial as well as gender diversity on corporate boards is inexcusable. A diverse board will help companies better reflect the community’s demographics and make better decisions. It will also improve their image. It is vital that companies as well as federal policymakers hone their efforts on building fair structures, identifying and recruiting talents, and rethinking the selection process in order to increase diversity within American companies.

The primary read board.international focus of most board diversity discussions is on the need to correct a skewed representation of the demographics of a company. However, the ultimate goal should be to find candidates who have a diverse range of skills, abilities and knowledge. Diverse board members can bring new ideas to the table, challenge the status quo, and make more innovative decisions that drive long-term value.

Through a combination of variables, such as education, age, and professional experience, you can identify which categories your board is under- or over-represented and target hiring accordingly. If your board is predominantly comprised of people with degrees in engineering, as an example it is possible to add a director who has an experience in the marketing field to facilitate a deeper discussion.

Some companies go so that they make an official commitment to diversity, which is a great way to hold the management and board to account. You can also make use of your board portal to run an audit on diversity that will identify areas where you’ll need to increase your workforce.