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It looks a bit like a ladder; Percentage of women at board level. Every year there are a few more female board members, and every year there is a small jump on the chart. Its impact has increased even more since the pandemic.
The quota for female board members has now crossed an important threshold: For the first time, the proportion of women on the boards of directors of the 180 Swiss companies examined is above 30 percent. This is proven by the special evaluation of the personnel consultant Schilling Partners for the “Handelszeitung”. The list includes the 150 companies with the largest capitalization on the SPI, as well as the thirty most important unlisted companies in Switzerland.
An important beginning that is now bearing fruit
“Increasingly, it is the leading companies that are driving value,” says Guido Schilling, co-founder of executive search firm Schilling Partners. “More than half of companies today already have more than 30 percent women on their boards,” she explains, “the downside of course is the 8 percent that do not yet have the strategic power of women.” But even there he believes things will move forward soon because everything is in motion right now. “There is momentum within this, women want to have higher standards in their professional careers.”
This trend will continue and spread throughout the next five years, thanks to the interaction of different stakeholder groups: “First of all, there are companies. They never do anything for their own benefit. “Diversity at the management level turns out to be an added value for them when it comes to complex challenges, so they drive development forward,” says Guido Schilling.
Management today has to show that it is gender sensitive. Because qualified women (second group) will otherwise quickly look for another place. This is a fatal situation for companies when there is a shortage of senior staff. But Schilling also talks about the state and society: “The state should benefit everything. “It must ensure that women have the capacity and create social structures that support families.” Ultimately, the social image of being a working mother and having children needs to change. “Instead of applauding each other, there are still whispers going around behind closed doors. But things are progressing; A lot is going to happen in the next few years,” says Schilling.
This is what it takes to gain top-level authority from companies and women
A lot has already happened with one board member. Maria Teresa Vacalli, an engineer by training, has taken on four assignments since this spring: Burckhardt Compression, Swiss Post, Kardex and Post Finance. Vacalli is pleased with the new figures. But still: “We’re not there yet and we have to keep working at it. “The trend should not slow down.”
So how can more women get onto boards? Vacalli thinks both parties have a duty: “For companies there is more flexibility in search, for women there is more visibility in the market.”
The board’s authorization search process consists of three steps: longlist, selection to the shortlist, and interviews with individuals on the shortlist. However, before the process can begin, the nominating committee must be specially selected. “If there are homogeneous board members on the committee, they will hire people who are similar to themselves,” Vacalli says. This is exactly why he is on the nominating committee; In his eyes, this committee is the most important committee because it selects a company’s strategic leadership and has correspondingly broad powers.
This article was first published on the paid service of handelszeitung.ch. Blick+ users have exclusive access as part of their subscription. You can find more exciting articles at www.handelszeitung.ch.
This article was first published on the paid service of handelszeitung.ch. Blick+ users have exclusive access as part of their subscription. You can find more exciting articles at www.handelszeitung.ch.
«The committee is making the long list. To get on this list, you need to be known. Only people you know are listed.” The next step is the CV. Do the reported experiences match expectations? Does the person have experience with P&L – Profit and Loss – and can they think strategically?
This is where Vacalli wants flexibility from companies today: “Companies are looking for a classic profile. Only: Many women did not hold CEO positions. You have not worked internationally or do not have all the required years of experience. “Most of the time, there is even a gap in their CVs because of their families.”
This is a fact and cannot be changed overnight. But the more companies narrow their search profiles, the harder it becomes to find women. Therefore, companies need to be more flexible.
Women need interviews too
If a woman is shortlisted, she is asked: “After shortlisting come interviews. It shows who the person is behind the CV. This is where women suffer,” says the experienced manager.
Women often focus too much on the company and less on what they will bring to the company. “Anyone who wants a board position should ask themselves why they are the right person for the position.” The candidates did this better than the female candidates, they highlighted their experiences more.
“It’s a woman’s duty to show off and make a name for herself,” says Vacalli. She also calls on women not to accept the first task offered to them: “If a woman wants a VR career, she must think about what her portfolio should look like. This is his calling card. “You have to have a strategy, be aware of your own strengths and know how you want to position yourself.”
However, Maria Teresa Vacalli and Guido Schilling believe that the next five years will be decisive for the match. “The struggle for qualified women continues. “Soon you will be able to choose your positions,” says the personnel consultant. Vacalli confirms the statement and continues to receive new requests. “This brings visibility,” she says. For now, he is happy with the four roles he has been given, but looks forward to many new colleagues joining the board.
Source :Blick
I’m Tim David and I work as an author for 24 Instant News, covering the Market section. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, my mission is to provide accurate, timely and insightful news coverage that helps our readers stay informed about the latest trends in the market. My writing style is focused on making complex economic topics easy to understand for everyone.
