Significant analysis confirms that companies with a higher proportion of women in their executive committees are also the companies that have the best performance. While this link does not demonstrate causality, it does provide a strong factual basis to continue to argue in favor of greater gender diversity in corporate top management. The 2008 Women Matter study demonstrated that some leadership behaviors, observed more frequently among women than among men, have a positive impact on a company’s organizational performance. Ultimately, this study highlighted that the complementarity and diversity of leadership styles make a difference on companies’ performance.”

1. Women on Board
presentation
November 2013

2. 1. Why more women on board ?
2. Who are we ?
3. Our members
4. Challenges 2012 – 2014
5. Contact
p.2
2

3. 1. Why more women on Board ?
Because women represent :
•Half the market
•Half the workforce
•Half the talent
Women represent a huge underexploited reservoir of talent !
In Belgium, the share of women among tertiary students amounts to 54,9%,
slightly lower than the EU-27 average of 55,2 %. The percentage of women in
humanities & Arts amounts to 59% and is of 30% in maths, sciences & computing
(Source : Eurostat – last available year 2007)
p.3

4. 1. Why more women on Board ?
Today’s situation in Belgium
Proportion of women on the Boards in Europe
Source : McKinsey's Women Matter 2012: Realizing the breakthrough.
p.4

5. 1. Why more women on Board ?
Significant analysis confirms that companies with a higher proportion of women
in their executive committees are also the companies that have the best
performance. While this link does not demonstrate causality, it does provide a
strong factual basis to continue to argue in favor of greater gender diversity in
corporate top management.
The 2008 Women Matter study demonstrated that some leadership behaviors,
observed more frequently among women than among men, have a positive impact
on a company’s organizational performance. Ultimately, this study highlighted that
the complementarity and diversity of leadership styles make a difference on
companies’ performance.”
p.5

6. 1. Why more women on Board ?
Their positive contribution to a Board :
-Diversity of perspectives
-Innovation
-Creativity
-Performance
-Governance
there is a positive link between PERFORMANCE and GENDER BALANCE
p.6

7. 1. Why more women on Board ?
This positive link between performance & gender balance is proven by – at
least - 2 studies:
CATALYST REPORT (US Research organisation) “Linking Performance and
Gender Balance on the Board” – October 2007:
Fortune 500 companies with 3 or more women on the Board gain a significant performance
advantage over those with the fewest
+ 73% return on sales
+ 83% return on equity
+ 112% return on invested capital
McKINSEY REPORT: “Women Matter: Gender Diversity, a corporate
performance driver” - 2008
Similar findings come from the McKinsey Report, with those companies with the most
women on their senior team showing superior growth in equity, operational results and
share price. If at least a third of the senior team is made up of women, then companies
outperform those with no women on 9 criteria of organisational excellence.
p.7

8. 1. Why more women on Board ?
“At three members of the board, the benefits of women start to make a real
difference. But which comes first: the relatively large number of leading women
or the type of corporate culture that facilitates a broader leadership? Well,
argues a VP at the source of one of the studies, does it matter?”
Some companies act like Deutsche Telekom imposing quota’s for female
managers (30% at top and middle management in 2015) :
“This is not about hiring women just for the sake of hiring women but about
achieving a competitive edge by tapping into talent.”
p.8

9. 2. Who are we ?
Women on Board asbl - vzw
 Created in December 2009
 With the financial support of the Belgian Institute for The Equality of
Women and Men (IEFH/IGVM) for the launch phase (2009-2010), of
cabinet Marcours (Wallonia) for 2011 and of the Ministry of Economy of
Region Brussels Capital for 2011 and 2012.
 Objective : to promote access of women to directorship roles in Belgian
enterprises, public and private
 Primary goals :
• create a pool of women candidates board members
• Introduce the concept of competences and skills
• Take initial action to promote the initiative and facilitate access of Belgian
enterprises to this pool.
p.9

10. 2. Who are we ?
Mission & Vision
 Our mission: provide visibility to capable and motivated
women to stimulate diversity in the boards
 Our vision : provide female talents to boards
p.10

11. 2. Who are we ?
Founding members
Sonja Rottiers, Chair Woman
CFO, AXA Belgium
Cécile Coune, Vice Chair Woman
CEO, Aviabel
Françoise Roels, Vice Chair Woman
Secretary General, Cofinimmo
Marie Evrard, Secretary
Partner, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
Emmanuèle Attout, Treasurer
Partner, PwC
Board members:
5 ladies and 3 men
•
•
•
Jean-Claude Ettinger, Prefessor Emeritus, Solvay Business School ULB and President, Cap Innove
Philippe Lambrechts, Director & Secretary General FEB/VBO
Dirk Tirez, General Secretary & Group Counsel, bpost
p.11

12. 2. Who are we ?
Women on Board’s functioning
•
Board of Directors: strategy and action towards Women on Board goals (bylaws).
3 men have joined the board since the beginning of 2012.
•
Admission Committee: advise the board on candidate members according to the
core competencies profile
•
Advisory Board (to be created in a second step): to consult with the Board of
Directors on all factors which may influence the purpose of the Association.
•
Members (Founders, Talent Pool, Sympathizers)
•
Sponsors (Diamond, Gold, Silver)
p.12

13. 3. Our members
Women on Board’s Belgian talents
(160 members on 29/10/2013)

14. 3. Our members
Women on Board’s Belgian talents
(160 members on 29/10/2013)

15. Success stories
"Thanks to Women on
Board we could quickly
identify the right person
to achieve the gender
diversity we decided to
bring to our board :
efficient, professional and
reliable !”
Pierre H.Rion Ir.
Chairman of the Board
EVS Broadcast Equipment
SA
“When looking for new board
members, we found at Women on
Board high level potential
candidates with pertinent corporate
governance views and significant
business experience. We had the
pleasure to enrich our board team
with two qualitative persons, after a
seamless evaluation process from
both sides.”
Thierry Janssen
Executive Chairman
RealDolmen
“In only 5 days, Women on Board put us in contact
with a number of interesting persons with great track
record for our Board. The organisation is very
efficient. We are really ambassadors of this initiative.
“
Anneleen Desmyter
Partner, Quares
“Being a member of “Women on
Board” has given me the
opportunity to be appointed as
director of the Board of a familyowned business and to benefit
from all the events and trainings
organized by the Association. This
clearly contributed to increasing
my professionalism and my
network. It’s a great experience !
“
Catherine Alexandre
VP Internal & Sustainability
Communications
Delhaize Group

16. 4. Challenges 2013-2014







Increase pool to 300 members by end 2014
Increase number of sponsors
Mentoring programme – second edition 2013-2014
Meet chairmen of Bel 20 companies
Support adoption of diversity label by the government
Advertize vacant board positions
Make entreprises more aware and leverage more support from them
p.16

17. 5. Women on Board asbl - vzw
Website : www.womenonboard.be
email : info@womenonboard.be
Women on Board asbl/vzw
L’Arsenal
Boulevard Louis Schmidt 29
B-1040 Bruxelles
Contact presse
Gunther De Backer
debacker@comfi.be
+32 475 903 909
p.17