Page 25 - CSA Speaker Bulletin September 2016 | CSA Celebrity Speakers
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WOMAN POWER
We Need
More
Women
to Lead!
VIVIANE REDING
Company performance is the resorted to more compelling means available or qualified for company
best advocate of the business under the form of a European directive boards, Viviane Reding in 2012
argument for more women that imposed a target of 40% presence initiated with a group of like-
in senior decision-making. Where of the under-represented sex among minded professionals the creation
gender-diversity is actively pursued, non-executive directors of listed of the “Global Board Ready Women”
companies perform better. Various companies. Even though the actual database, counting 8000 highly
studies have shown that mirroring a proposal is still being blocked in the qualified women – a network that
market where women control around Council of Ministers (never mind the has been growing ever since. In
70% of consumer spending decisions, ringing endorsement it received from 2014 Reding was presented with the
leads to increased market insights the European Parliament), it has been Global Women’s Leadership Award
into consumer choices and behaviour, a political impulse that has caused a by the Global Summit of Women,
and to a more creative and diversified game-changing ripple-effect in Europe. among others as a recognition of her
decision-making process. But if the Many Member States adopted national unwavering commitment to further
growing consensus on the need for legislation in the spirit of her proposal. equality and diversity. It is a tribute
more women in leadership has today Consequently the representation to the force of political impulsion to
caused the glass-ceiling to crack, it is of women in senior positions has bring about the much needed societal
in large part due to political impulsion dramatically improved. Over the change to tap into the huge global pool
and agenda-setting. period 2010-2015, the presence of of female talent. n
women on company boards increased
As then Vice-President of the European from 11,9% to 21,2%. VIVIANE REDING is a formidable
Commission, Viviane Reding saw force in the world of European
in 2012 that her initiative of self- But for this evolution on company politics. She currently sits on the
regulation through a voluntary “Women boards, a revolution in people’s European Parliament. She writes
on the Board Pledge for Europe” wasn’t mindsets was needed. To shatter here about the need for more
producing the desired results. She the myth that there are no women senior women decision-makers.
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