A Discussion on Is India Ready for Women on Corporate Boards? The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi

An exclusive interactive session with Susan Stautberg, Co founder of the Women Corporate Director (WCD) and Naina Lal Kidwai, Executive Director on the Board of HSBC Ltd. and Country Head of HSBC India and Sr. Vice President-FICCI was organised on February 27, 2012 at New Delhi. It was a step forward in strengthening the FLO-WCD association, which began with an MOU signed between WCD and FLO in March 2011, during the tenure of Ranjana Agarwal as the President of FLO.

Ranjana Agarwal introduced the speakers and appraised the participants about FLO-WCD agenda. She hoped that over time this partnership will result in the creation of a platform for women directors where they could share experiences and learning from their board assignments and mentor other eligible candidates.

Naina Lal Kidwai, along with Susan Stautberg, has agreed to be a mentor for this special initiative and guide potential women directors in India in the process of creating shared value and sustainability. Addressing the group of women directors who participated in the meeting, Ms Kidwai reinforced the need to dwell on the reasons of the lack of women on corporate boards and then finding viable solutions. She also shared her own experiences being on two corporate boards- HSBC -Asia Pacific and Nestle SA. She also stated that as President of FICCI she would like to help create a pool of women corporate directors.

Susan Stautberg emphasized on the importance of legislations, regulations and volunteering in order to create diversity in board rooms. She also cited the examples of countries like Malaysia, Norway, UK and Australia where these factors have contributed towards gender inclusiveness on corporate boards.

The luncheon meeting was a great opportunity for networking and paved way towards building up the FLO-WCD initiative in India.