theBoardlist Launches Curated Talent Marketplace And New Partnerships To Accelerate Board Diversity and Business Performance
Invites industry leaders, CEOs and board members globally to address gender imbalance by connecting highly qualified women with private and public boards
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, theBoardlist.com announced the launch of its new online marketplace and partnerships aimed at accelerating gender diversity and business performance in boardrooms globally. In addition to new members and programs in the U.S., theBoardlist also announced its beta launch in Europe, with over 100 Europe-based female leaders endorsed as board candidates in its database.
theBoardlist is a curated marketplace where CEOs and investors discover and connect with highly qualified, peer-endorsed women for their open board seats. Since launching its beta tool in July 2015, theBoardlist has grown to over 1,000 female candidates nominated for boards by 200 business leaders, CEOs and investors across the technology industry. theBoardlist community includes the CEOs and leaders of Airbnb, ZocDoc, Lyft, TripAdvisor, Marketo, Cisco, eBay, Box, as well as venture capital firms including Accel Partners, Battery Ventures, First Round Capital, Greylock Partners, IVP, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Norwest Venture Partners and many others who are committed to improving board diversity and performance within the tech industry.
"Long-held assumptions about a lack of qualified women candidates for private and public tech company boards don't align with reality," said Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, Founder & Chairman of theBoardlist. "There is a wealth of board-ready female talent in the U.S. and globally. And with over 40 active board searches in theBoardlist, we're seeing a desire from CEOs -- early stage to public -- to engage qualified women leaders as board directors. I'm hopeful that theBoardlist will help change the narrative and number of women in corporate leadership, starting in tech boardrooms."
"There's no question that theBoardlist provides a great resource that makes it easier to source strong, female candidates for open board seats," said Rich Wong, Partner, Accel Partners. "We've appreciated the opportunity to use this resource to find a number of highly qualified board members for our portfolio companies."
According to a recent report from the Government Accountability Office, it could take over four decades to achieve gender parity on corporate boards in the U.S. The problem extends globally; women hold just 12% of board seats worldwide and chair a mere 4% of boards.
In addition to the expansion of service, theBoardlist is announcing two new programs in the U.S. First, in partnership with eBay and Marketo, theBoardlist is launching its Corporate Member program. The Corporate Member program provides a platform for leading tech companies to support corporate talent development and board-readiness initiatives for their exceptional female leaders. As corporate members, companies are able to endorse senior women for boards, as well as offer customized educational and networking opportunities to ensure their success as board directors.
Second, in partnership with global sponsor Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, this spring theBoardlist will begin offering board-readiness workshops designed to help women leaders successfully prepare and operate effectively on boards.
"We have a long-standing commitment to address gender diversity at eBay and the development of exceptional female leaders through our WIN program is an important component," said Devin Wenig, CEO, eBay. "Board service ensures our leaders get exposure across many different aspects of business. When they bring that learning back to our company, we are better positioned to create even better experiences for our customers and deliver results for all stakeholders."
Today theBoardlist is also beta launching in Europe, with over 100 international women leaders nominated into theBoardlist community for global board opportunities. Joining theBoardlist as founding international members includes leading venture capital firm Atomico Ventures and global law firm Reed Smith LLP, who has also joined as theBoardlist a global sponsor.
Niklas Zennström, CEO and Founding Partner of Atomico said, "Data tells us that diverse perspective and experience strengthens business performance, so building inclusive and diverse businesses is something we should all treat with urgency. Unless we get more women in tech we will not realize its true potential in Europe, and that includes the boardrooms of private and public companies. We are pleased to partner with theBoardlist and bring this important, trusted marketplace to Europe."
About the #ChoosePossibility Project & theBoardlist
Frustrated by the lack of women in technology company boardrooms and no clear solution to the problem, serial entrepreneur and CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy launched the #ChoosePossibility Project and subsequently theBoardlist in July 2015. theBoardlist is a curated marketplace where CEOs and investors discover and connect with highly qualified, peer-endorsed women for their open board seats. Starting with the technology industry, theBoardlist is challenging growth stage companies to accelerate opportunities for women to achieve at the highest levels. Follow theBoardlist on Twitter @theBoardlist.
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