How You Can Contribute to CABLE’S Hallmark Initiative

WOMEN ON BOARDS COMMITTEE

Mission

"Women on Boards" is CABLE's hallmark initiative as our organization strengthens its presence in Tennessee and expands into other cities nationwide. The committee's main goal is to lead a successful movement to increase the number of women and women of color on corporate boards in Tennessee, and to help lead that movement nationally.

2009 Goals & How You Can Help Fulfill Them

The goals of our committee for 2009/2010 are to:

1. Develop a roadmap for prospective women directors. This will include organizing events for current women directors to share their background and knowledge with others, as well as introducing education programs being developed, such as Lipscomb University’s board education.
   
   
2. Advocate "Women on Boards" as CABLE’' hallmark initiative. This will include managing the annual census and study, creating and driving a PR plan, continue to grow the relationship with ION and Corporate Board Member magazine, and helping recognize women and companies "who get it" with a major celebration event.
   
   
3. Enhance CABLE's database of board-qualified candidates and assist with a direct placement.
   

This will include laying the groundwork for establishing a CABLE Women's Affinity Group for Executives (WAGE), organizing the database as a useful resource for search committees and utilizing that database for placements.

We have a great team, and presently are recruiting new members as we work on our key initiatives and goals for 2009/2010. Anyone interested in the cause or in working on any particular project is welcome. I would be delighted to enlist new CABLE talent and look forward to meeting you.

Background

The founders of CABLE's "Women on Boards" committee in 2003 were impressed by seminal national research  revealing that while women represented the majority of investors, had the strongest influence on purchasing decisions for most households and  comprised a rapidly growing population within the U.S. workforce, they held less than 15% of board directorship position for public companies.

By the spring of 2005, the Committee had commissioned an academic study analyzing women’s presence in boardrooms and the executive suites for the 105 public companies headquartered in Tennessee. Partnering with The Women's Social Policy and Research Group at Vanderbilt University and more recently with Lipscomb University's College of Business, CABLE has repeated the study to track board composition over time.

CABLE's 2005 and 2008 studies have shown that the number of board and executive positions held by women in Tennessee does not reflect the number of qualified women aiming to fill those roles. Further, the pace of change in board composition does not match the increasing need for the diversity, industry and market knowledge, and fresh perspectives that are critical in today's business environment.

CABLE was accepted in 2008 into the InterOrganization Network (ION), an alliance of twelve prestigious women's organizations located across the U.S. ION's mission is to advance women to positions of power in the business world, and one of its key initiatives is a broad-based study quantifying women on boards of directors and in executive suites. This alliance gives CABLE a national voice, plus outstanding resources to help women attain corporate leadership positions here in Tennessee.