Quotes and Backgrounds

Interview Quotes: "Disagree with staying in your own lane when considering boards. Want to be involved in the most impactful." "We need to continue to highlight demographic trends." "Search firms are a big piece of the diversity puzzle." "Real power in driving diversity is with institutional investors." "Make clear to business that you will not win if you are not diverse."

Interview Quotes: "Realized someone had been watching him while on his not-for profit board service." "Was the first Black on almost all of his boards." "Should support management but then hold them accountable. Focus on what benefit you could bring to a board." "You have to be willing to learn." "Think Black representation on boards will decrease in the short term because of recent anti DEI attacks."

Interview Quotes: "Each board member brings a unique perspective to the boardroom, and each board member has the opportunity to learn from others." "Search firms must associate with organizations with access to diverse talent." "When approached for roles which they themselves cannot pursue, sitting directors can refer diverse candidates to such opportunities."

Interview Quotes: "Over time, people look as much or more at your board experience than your corporate history." "Important to be more than just a one trick pony." "Women tend to suffer more from imposter syndrome."

Interview Quotes: "Need to tie the diversity progress to compensation." "Do not be shy about your ambitions. Don't be shy about networking." "Imposter syndrome is real amongst minority board candidates but nobody on the board knows everything about everything." "See some slowdown in the near term in black representation on boards."

Interview Quotes: "Served on boards to continue to influence companies in how they create value and how they promote DEI and environmental issues." "Regarding diversity, she always likes to start with the data. What does our data look like from a representation and pay equity perspective?" "Her pet peeve is board meetings that occur outside the boardroom and do not include all directors." "There is a ton of research that supports the benefits of diversity. We can make progress if we are beating the same drum."

Interview Quotes: "In board vetting process is relationships make the difference. For every board it was a relationship that had been nurtured over years. Now is my turn to invest in  others and to help them get where they want to get." "Somebody’s got to be the first. Take steps not to be the last." "Most boards are continuing to say the right things about diversity, saying that all this political stuff does not matter. We have got to get past the political activity that dominates public opinion."

Interview Quotes: "Utilize conferences for networking." "Key criteria in selecting boards is the integrity of their leadership." "You might be inexperienced, but you are not unworthy." "Important to develop the ability to ask good probing questions." "Boards need to source talent more broadly."