Influential women abound in British Columbia. Business in Vancouver has, for 12 years, sought out and profiled those women who are business leaders and influencers from across our province. The goal for the Influential Women in Business (IWIB) Awards is to shed light on those women who are serving on corporate and not-for-profit boards who are also successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.
It could be argued that the need for this type of awards program is long past, but the reality is that business leaders need reminding of the need for diversity around the boardroom table and emerging women business leaders can benefit from role models.
Many studies show similar results: disproportionately few women on corporate boards. There is a disconnect between the goal of gender diversity and the reality. So how can the corporate world take advantage of the benefits of gender diversity and make it a reality?
Recommended strategies from the Canadian Board Diversity Council include following best practices for recruiting board members, having a written policy on diversity expectations and limiting the number of boards your directors sit on.
Women business executives who want to take part in corporate governance have a role to play as well. Beyond networking, they need to:
- make sure they have experience on boards, which could come from non-profits;
- understand corporate governance practices; and
- develop financial acumen and build a leadership presence.
We have profiled and honoured well-known and lesser-known business leaders and influencers, such as Nancy Stibbard, Shannon Byrne, Carole Taylor, Martha Piper, Sue Paish, Dee Miller, Shushma Datt and Barbara Rae.
This year’s winners will tell their stories and be honoured March 2 at the Fairmont Waterfront. Gloria Macarenko will emcee the awards luncheon.
Each of the honourees will share with us a little of her own experience of success. These women have been nominated and selected based on criteria of business success, power and influence within their industry and the business community at large. They serve on community and corporate boards covering a wide range of issues and industries. Their stories are important to tell because they shed light on the quality of businesswomen with the experience and the required depth of knowledge needed to participate in and contribute to corporate governance.
Companies who build gender diversity around the boardroom table see increased business success. We feel these stories need to be told because of the disconnect between the business case for gender diversity and the reality.
Our business community is rich from the efforts of women like those we have honoured and who are nominated every year.
Late last year we lost one of B.C.’s most influential women – Virginia Greene. She was an entrepreneur, business leader and community contributor whose creativity, leadership and drive was truly inspirational throughout her career and certainly during her fight with ovarian cancer.
In the spirit of giving back and sharing knowledge, our IWIB honourees and other senior businesswomen have given their time over the past two years at a half-day forum called Leadership Lessons. In 2011, this event will take place in late October and will provide round-table discussion on a variety of topics related to leadership, governance, balance and career planning.
Co-presented by the Professional Women’s Network with support by Fasken Martineau and Vancity, it provides a venue for networking, a sharing of ideas and experience for emerging women business leaders.Tickets for the March 2 Influential Women in Business Awards are available at www.biv.com. A complete list of previous honourees is on page 18. Selected profiles of previous honourees are also available online at www.biv.com.