New database of women achievers to identify candidates for key positions
A DATABASE compiling the qualifications of highly accomplished women and other under-represented groups in the region is currently being created.
The Diversity On Board initiative is being spearheaded by 3BL Associates, a sustainable development consultancy.
It aims to catalogue accomplished individuals in business, government, civil society and science to help organisations identify candidates for executive and advisory board positions.
The idea has been inspired by a similar initiative in the UK called Women On Boards, said 3BL Associates co-founder and managing director Leena Al Olaimy.
“I was trying to find an equivalent for Bahrain and the region, but I couldn’t really find anything,” she added.
However, she said the Diversity On Board initiative not only focused on women, but also young entrepreneurs and others.
“Diversity and inclusion is not just a gender issue,” she said.
“To have inclusive societies you can’t just be inclusive in one aspect, it needs to be everything.
“Our region is very young and I feel diversity should also include millennials.
“At the end of the day, any corporate or government board should reflect the society, people, customers and citizens that it is serving.
“You don’t really see initiatives pushing for under-represented board talent, whether its women, younger people, disabled or other under-represented groups – and that’s what we want Diversity On Board to be.
“In the first step we’re going to start with women because you have to build incrementally, but the vision is to look at all these under-represented groups as well.”
The announcement follows a call by Bahrain Economic Development Board chief executive Khalid Al Rumaihi earlier this month for a database of highly qualified women.
Ms Al Olaimy highlighted a McKinsey & Company report that predicts the global economy would grow by as much as $28 trillion by 2025 if women took part in the labour force to the same degree as men – a 26 per cent increase in GDP.
That is why she believes a database of highly qualified women is essential for regional progress.
“This is like building a LinkedIn from scratch, so it is a lot of work – which is why we haven’t launched the full version yet,” she added.
The idea is that qualified women will be nominated for the platform through personal networks, as well as recommendations from business leaders and partners.
“This way you don’t become the only person endorsing, you have a peer-endorsed network,” said Ms Al Olaimy.
“People are not going to endorse people that they don’t see as being of a high calibre.
Mission
“What we also plan is for each profile to show who someone was endorsed by or nominated by.”
Diversity On Board’s stated mission is to promote and increase board diversity in the Arab world to increase economic competitiveness, enhance corporate governance and foster more inclusive societies.
“I hope that every multi-sector organisation in the Arab world will recognise, capitalise and leverage this diversity dividend to create more inclusive and stable economies and societies,” added Ms Al Olaimy.
Board positions will also be announced on the site, which people can apply for through the platform, along with a listing of events and educational opportunities.
For more information, visit www.diversityonboard.org or e-mail impact@3blassociates.com.
Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/402523/New-database-of-women-achievers
