Why the reluctance?

Another study was issued this past week which reported that "FP 500 boardrooms are not reflective of the broader population of Canada".

Somewhat more alarmingly the study (by the Canadian Board Diversity Council) showed a big gap between how boards perceived their own diversity and the actual reality. For example, even though a good number of directors felt that diversity was very important the study reported that while 62% of company directors believe their boards are diverse only 15% of board members are women. These numbers simply don't add up!

It's hard to understand, when study after study proves that diversity has a positive bottom line impact, why diversity isn't being embraced more fully by Canadian corporations. Tellingly, the larger the company is the more likely they are to have a more diverse board and to have policies and strategies in place for increasing the diversity of their board.

The message seems pretty clear. Want to create a successful company? Make sure you have a diverse workforce, and when it comes to creating a diverse workforce you must start at the top.