While women and ethnic minorities are increasingly included on corporate board of directors, a lack of mentoring means their chances of obtaining ‘elite inner circle’ status by serving on multiple boards is lessened.
Joint research from the University of Michigan and University of Texas explored the mentoring and make up of 2,000 large US firms.
Discovering minority first time board members are 72% less likely to be properly advised about formal conduct by existing board members, than white counterparts. Women are 52% less likely to have been advised on the need to obtain CEO’s permission before raising concerns in formal meetings.
The lack of mentoring means women and minorities are 57% less likely to be offered a second board position within their first two years.
Read more at University of Michigan, University of Texas