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GDI: First Quarter 2025 Key Findings

As of March 31, 2025, using data from our Exclusive Data Partner, Equilar, women hold 30.4% of board seats on Russell 3000 companies, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter.
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GDI Report 2025

Special reports

Our 50/50WOB Special Reports, When Women Lead, and Gender Diversity of the Top 25 IPOs reveal the driving influences that propel or hinder qualified women from serving in leadership roles and as corporate board directors.

Women Leading Boards

Women Leading Boards

To gain a holistic view of the progress made by women over the past year, Women Leading Boards, a special report from Women Business Collaborative (WBC) and 50/50 Women on Boards™ (WOB), assesses data from a variety of sources, including global benchmarks, the Russell 3000 Index, the Fortune, and S&P 500s, as well as privately held companies.

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Nasdaq Diversity Rules Take Hold on 2021 IPOs

Nasdaq Diversity Rules Take Hold on 2021 IPOs

Nasdaq’s Diversity Rule, approved by the SEC last August, did what it set out to do: improve diversity on the boards of companies listed on the exchange. The rule requires most of their 3000 listed companies to have at least one woman and one person from a racial minority or who identifies as LBGTQ — or explain why they don’t. Companies have been paying attention.

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50/50 Women on Boards Releases Q1 2021 Key Findings

50/50 Women on Boards Releases Q1 2021 Key Findings

Using the data provided by Equilar, as of Mar. 31, 2021, 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ research reveals that there are 2,918 active companies on the Russell 3000 Index and 27,091 total board seats. Women now hold 6,598 (or 24.4%) of the seats, a 0.7 percentage point increase from Dec. 31, 2020. Our findings also reveal the number of California Russell 3000 index companies that need to add women to comply with SB 826 by year-end and the number of seats available to women.

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50/50 Women on Boards Releases Fourth Quarter Key Findings

50/50 Women on Boards Releases Fourth Quarter Key Findings

Using data provided by Equilar, as of Dec 31, 2020, 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ Key Findings reveal that the number of women on boards continues to increase.

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Make an Impact — Where to start?

Make an Impact — Where to start?

Independent research shows when three or more women serve on a board business profitably, productivity and workplace engagement are positively impacted. Below are tangible next steps and resources to help accelerate gender balance and diversity in the workplace.

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2020 Top 25 IPO Report

2020 Top 25 IPO Report

An Annual Review of Women’s Status on the Top 25 IPO Company Boards, Ranked by Market Cap.

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2020 When Women Lead Report

2020 When Women Lead Report

We reviewed companies in the Russell 3000 (R3000) Index, the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S., to uncover if gender at the top influenced boardroom gender diversity. Our 50/50WOB Gender Diversity Index findings are unequivocal.

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2019 Top 25 IPO Report

2019 Top 25 IPO Report

A full year before Goldman Sachs announced that it would not take a company public if the board didn’t have at least one diverse candidate with an emphasis on women, the largest IPOs of 2019 demonstrated a historic shift in board composition.

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2017 Top 25 IPO Report

2017 Top 25 IPO Report

For years we have heard that men largely populate the boards of IPO companies. We decided to test that precept.

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2016 When Women Lead Report

2016 When Women Lead Report

In our mid-year report, 2020 Women on Boards delved into the board data of the 2015 Fortune 1000 companies to research how many women directors
there were, whether they were on multiple boards

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PREV NEXT
GDI: First Quarter 2025 Key Findings

GDI: First Quarter 2025 Key Findings

As of March 31, 2025, using data from our Exclusive Data Partner, Equilar, women hold 30.4% of board seats on Russell 3000 companies, virtually unchanged from the previous quarter.

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GDI: Fourth Quarter 2024 Key Findings

GDI: Fourth Quarter 2024 Key Findings

For the first time since we began tracking all public companies in the U.S., progress of women on Russell 3000 company boards stalls. Women continue to hold 30.2% of board seats as reported in Q3, showing only a 0.6 percentage point increase from the previous quarter.

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GDI: Third Quarter 2024 Key Findings

GDI: Third Quarter 2024 Key Findings

As of September 30, 2024, our report, in partnership with our Exclusive Data Partner Equilar, shows that women hold 30.2% of Russell 3000 company board seats, a 0.2% increase from the last quarter.

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2024 Gender Diversity Index Report

2024 Gender Diversity Index Report

Breaking the 30% Barrier! Women now hold 30% of the corporate board seats and women of color 8%, but the pace of change is holding at 1%. In this report, we compare the progress corporations made from June 2023 to June 2024, including five-year trends, to track the percentage of women on Russell 3000 Index company boards by state, sector, and firm size. We also report on the race and ethnicity of all corporate directors and how women in key leadership roles impact diversity on boards.

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GDI: First Quarter 2024 Key Findings

GDI: First Quarter 2024 Key Findings

Our latest report, in collaboration with our Exclusive Data Partner Equilar, as of March 31, 2024, highlights concerning trends in U.S. corporate boardrooms.

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GDI: Fourth Quarter 2023 Key Findings

GDI: Fourth Quarter 2023 Key Findings

As of December 31, 2023, women hold 29.4% of the board seats, a 0.2 percentage point increase from Q3 2023, and a one percentage point increase from the previous year.

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GDI: Third Quarter 2023 Key Findings

GDI: Third Quarter 2023 Key Findings

As of September 30, 2023, women hold 29.2% of the board seats, a 0.2 percentage point increase from Q2 2023, and a 1 percentage point increase from the previous year. 36.5% of the 455 new directors who joined boards in Q3 2023 were women, equivalent to Q2 2023, but lower than all of 2022 and 2021 when the percentage was 39% and 45% respectively.

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2023 Gender Diversity Index Report

2023 Gender Diversity Index Report

Women now hold 29% of the corporate board seats, and women of color 7%, but the pace to diversify boards slows. Dedicated to transparently tracking the progress of women on corporate boards, the 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ Annual Report compares the progress corporations made from June 2022 to June 2023, tracking the percentage of women on Russell 3000 Index company boards the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. by company size, state, and sector.

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GDI: First Quarter 2023 Key Findings

GDI: First Quarter 2023 Key Findings

As of March 31, 2023, women hold 28.9% of the board seats, a 0.5 percentage point increase from Q4 2022, and a 1.6 percentage point increase from the previous year.

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GDI: Fourth Quarter 2022 Key Findings

GDI: Fourth Quarter 2022 Key Findings

As of Dec. 31, 2022, women held 28.4% of the corporate board seats on the Russell 3000. This is only a 0.2 percentage point increase from the previous quarter, and a 1.7 percentage point increase from Dec. 31, 2021.

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GDI: Third Quarter 2022 Key Findings

GDI: Third Quarter 2022 Key Findings

Using the data provided by our partner Equilar, the pace for women joining boards in Q3 2022, from July 1 – Sept. 30, 2022 has stalled or remained flat and is the lowest quarter-over-quarter progress since the first six months of 2020. The halt may be a sign of political polarization and economic unrest. Still whatever the reason, the lack of progress for women on boards may contribute to why women are leaving the workforce and the pipeline of women.

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2022 Gender Diversity Index Report

2022 Gender Diversity Index Report

Dedicated to transparently tracking the progress of women on corporate boards, the 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ Annual Report compares the progress made from June 2021 to June 2022, tracking the percentage of women on Russell 3000 Index company boards — the largest public companies in the U.S. — by company size, state, and sector. We also report on the race and ethnicity of all directors and disseminate the data by racial groups and gender.

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GDI: First Quarter 2022 Key Findings

GDI: First Quarter 2022 Key Findings

Using the data provided by our partner Equilar, as of March 31, 2022, women hold 27.3% of the Russell 3000 company board seats. The year-over-year increase from 2021 to 2022 is 2.9%, with the most significant increase of 3% women on boards from 2020 to 2021.

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GDI: Fourth Quarter 2021 Key Findings

GDI: Fourth Quarter 2021 Key Findings

Using the data provided by our partner Equilar, as of December 31, 2021, women hold 26.7% of the Russell 3000 company board seats. The report reveals Russell 3000 board diversity statistics by gender, company, race & ethnicity, state, and sector, including action items to help achieve gender balance and diversity on boards.

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GDI: Third Quarter 2021 Key Findings

GDI: Third Quarter 2021 Key Findings

Third Quarter 2021 Key Findings: Using the data provided by Equilar we analyze, track, and publish data on our website in our Gender Diversity Directory. This report reflects data made available as of September 30, 2021.

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2021 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index

2021 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index

The 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index is an annual review of the gender and diversity composition on company boards of the Russell 3000 Index.

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Quarterly Report

Quarterly Report

On November 12, The Global Conversation on Board Diversity: Women Leaders Changing the World, will kick-off a virtual series of 28 distinct City/State events to ignite a game-changing conversation on board diversity and gender balance.

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2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index

2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index

Published annually, our 50/50 Woman on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ measures the percentage of board seats held by women on the Russell 3000 Index, and reports on progress by company size, state headquarters, sector and rating.

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2019 Gender Diversity Index

2019 Gender Diversity Index

The 2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index (GDI) is an annual review of gender diversity in boards of directors on the Russell 3000 Index.

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2018 Gender Diversity Index

2018 Gender Diversity Index

We are happy to unveil this year’s 2020 Women on Boards (2020WOB) Gender Diversity Index which shows that the average number of corporate board seats held by women on the 2018 Russell 3000 Index (R3000) has risen to 17.7%, up from
16.0% last year.

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2017 Gender Diversity Index

2017 Gender Diversity Index

Women now hold more than 20% of the board seats of Fortune 1000 companies that comprise the Gender Diversity Index (GDI). 2020 Women on Boards surpassed its goal, three years ahead of schedule.

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2016 Gender Diversity Index

2016 Gender Diversity Index

We are pleased to present the 2016 Gender Diversity Index (GDI) report: our annual analysis of America’s largest companies.

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2015 Gender Diversity Index

2015 Gender Diversity Index

We are pleased to present the Gender Diversity Index for 2015. We began tracking companies in 2011 using the 2010 Fortune 1000 list.

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2014 Gender Diversity Index

2014 Gender Diversity Index

We started the 2020 Women on Boards campaign in 2010 as a grass roots initiative to engage corporate stakeholders to hold companies accountable in diversifying their boards of directors.

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2013 Gender Diversity Index

2013 Gender Diversity Index

We are delighted to present the third annual 2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index of Fortune 1000 Companies.

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PREV NEXT

50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ Reports

Our 50/50 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index™ reports compare the percentage of company board seats held by women on the Russell 3000 Index. Reports dated before 2018 compare the gender composition of company boards on the Fortune 1000.

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PREVIOUSLY 2020 WOMEN ON BOARDS

Code of Conduct: Governing Data & Emerging Tech

Boards are no longer observers of emerging technology; they are stewards of how it’s governed. This panel goes beyond awareness to examine how directors can structure oversight, define accountability, and measure governance effectiveness in AI, data use, and digital innovation. Panelists will share practical strategies for building governance systems that ensure transparency, ethical decision-making, and responsible innovation at scale.

Your First Board Meeting: A Director’s Playbook

Designed for aspiring and newly appointed directors, this session offers practical guidance on how to step confidently into your first boardroom. Learn what to expect in early meetings, how to contribute with purpose, and how to quickly build credibility and trust among seasoned peers. Gain insight into board dynamics, unspoken protocols, and the critical questions new directors should be ready to ask and answer.

Tactics that Work: Case Studies in Navigating Shareholder Activism

In this tactical, director-focused session, participants will engage in case-based exercises to dissect real campaigns and pressure scenarios. From activist letters to proxy fights, explore how boards can craft strategic responses that reinforce governance integrity, protect corporate reputation, and align with long-term priorities. Walk away with actionable tactics and frameworks to strengthen board preparedness in the face of growing investor scrutiny.

Inside the Boardroom: Resilience Planning in Action

This interactive session places directors inside the boardroom during moments of disruption. Through tabletop exercises and real-world scenarios, participants will explore how boards can apply structured frameworks to assess geopolitical risk, anticipate threats, and make decisive decisions under pressure. Designed as a classroom-style session, this breakout provides practical tools to strengthen oversight and build a proactive board response strategy in an increasingly uncertain world.

Reputation & Response: How Boards Navigate Shareholder Activism

As shareholder activism intensifies, boards face mounting pressure to defend strategy, protect corporate reputation, and engage stakeholders with clarity. This panel brings together seasoned directors to explore how boards can respond effectively while maintaining credibility, board alignment, and stakeholder trust. Hear real-world insights on navigating activism in today’s high-stakes, high-visibility environment.

Navigating Global Markets: Trade, Tariffs, and Supply Chain Strategy

As global disruptions reshape business models, this panel will explore how boards can navigate the practical complexities of trade, tariffs, and supply chain shifts across regions. Panelists will share how directors are guiding companies through regulatory changes, sourcing challenges, and new market risks, while seizing opportunities for growth and operational agility.

Strengthening Oversight: Risk Management and Board Resilience

This keynote will equip directors to think globally about risk through the lens of geopolitical foresight, cross-border tensions, and long-term instability. Learn how boards can strengthen oversight and guide enterprise-wide resilience by anticipating disruption and embedding a proactive risk culture in a changing world.