Groundbreaking Initiative Aims to Accelerate Board Parity by Spotlighting Board-Ready Women
LOS ANGELES, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 50/50 Women on Boards™ (50/50WOB), the leading global education and advocacy nonprofit driving the movement toward gender balance on corporate boards, launches its third annual 50 Women to Watch for Boards program. The campaign, in celebration with International Women’s Day, aims to elevate board-ready women for public company board service.
“We remain steadfast in our mission to amplify women for corporate board leadership,” stated Heather Spilsbury, CEO of 50/50 Women on Boards. “Over the past two years, 10 honorees from our 50 Women to Watch for Boards campaign have secured public board seats, proving that there is no shortage of highly qualified women ready to lead. This year, we are furthering our impact by expanding visibility and networking opportunities for the next cohort of board-ready women.”
Powered by our exclusive data partner Equilar, 50/50 Women on Boards’ 2024 Q4 Gender Diversity Index™ reveals that 40% of Russell 3000 Index companies still have two or fewer women on their boards. Women now hold 30.2% of corporate board seats, a slight increase from the previous year, but progress has stalled. The 50 Women to Watch for Boards campaign addresses this disparity by providing corporations, nominating and governance committee chairs, and recruiters with a curated list of accomplished women ready to serve on public company boards.
Applications are now open, with a submission deadline of April 30, 2025. Women who meet the qualifications for public company board service but are not yet serving on a publicly traded board are encouraged to apply. Individuals may also nominate board-ready women in their networks, who will then be invited to apply. To be eligible, candidates must be based in North America.
The 50 honorees will be selected by an elite selection committee composed of public company board chairs, nominating and governance committee chairs, and stock exchange leaders from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
The 2025 selection committee includes:
Maria Ariza, CEO of BIVA
Joe Hurd, Non-Executive Director, Lloyd’s of London
John Driver, Chairman and CEO, Lynx Technology
Janet Wong, Independent Board Director, Lucid
David Chun, CEO & Founder, Equilar
Lara Lee, Independent Director, The WD-40 Company
Claire Chung, CEO, Ignae Skincare
Edith Avilés, Non-Executive Director, HSBC
Regina Cuellar Garcia, Independent Board Member, Grupo Rotoplas
Hari Panday, Board Member, Ontario Securities Commission
Honorees of 50 Women to Watch for Boards gain unparalleled visibility and direct access to influential corporate leaders. They receive personalized board-readiness training and mentorship from our esteemed selection committee, equipping them with the insights and connections to strengthen their Path to the Boardroom™. Additionally, they are featured at high-profile events, including exclusive speaking opportunities, VIP recognition, and invitations to engage with corporate directors at 20+ regional events and the Global Summit—ensuring they are seen, heard, and considered for public board opportunities.
For more information or to submit an application, please visit https://5050wob.com/program-overview/.
About 50/50 Women on Boards (50/50WOB)
50/50 Women on Boards™ (50/50WOB) is the leading nonprofit education and advocacy campaign driving the movement toward gender balance in corporate boardrooms. Since 2010, the campaign has published its 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™, tracking the gender and racial diversity of Russell 3000 company board directors. 50/50WOB offers year-round board-readiness educational workshops, the Networking Hub for board candidates, and its annual Global Conversation on Board Diversity™ to connect board-ready women with corporate leaders and governance experts. For more information, visit 5050wob.com.
SOURCE 50/50 Women on Boards
