The article expresses that Indian companies are overlooking a critical talent pool by failing to support women in mid-career leadership roles. The authors, highlight that while many women start in corporate roles, a significant percentage drop off at the mid-career stage. They emphasize that traditional leadership systems often lack the flexibility and support needed for women, leading to a “leaky pipeline” and a lack of gender-diverse boardrooms. The article advocates for rethinking governance and creating more inclusive systems to retain and empower female leaders, especially on boards in the non-profit sector.

This article showcases the impact of the Women on Boards (WOB) program through the case study of Swetha Prakash, a corporate professional who transitioned to an advisory role at Satya Special School. The article highlights how women on boards bring diverse skill sets, empathy, and a unique perspective that complements traditional male leadership. It discusses the low representation of women on both corporate and nonprofit boards and attributes it to factors like time constraints and family responsibilities. The program, a collaboration between ISDM, Dasra, and Governance Counts, aims to bridge this gap by training experienced women and placing them in leadership roles to foster better governance, diversity, and on-the-ground impact.

This article reports on the successful completion of the inaugural “Women on Boards” (WOB) program by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), in collaboration with Dasra and Governance Counts. The program trained 24 senior women leaders from the corporate sector to serve on the boards of social sector organizations. The initiative aims to address the lack of gender diversity on nonprofit boards and leverage the skills of corporate professionals for greater social impact. The program’s participants will now be matched with organizations to provide mentorship and strategic guidance, with a focus on creating sustainable and scalable change.

This article reports on the successful completion of the inaugural “Women on Boards” (WOB) program by the Indian School of Development Management (ISDM), in collaboration with Dasra and Governance Counts. The program trained 24 senior women leaders from the corporate sector to serve on the boards of social sector organizations. The initiative aims to address the lack of gender diversity on nonprofit boards and leverage the skills of corporate professionals for greater social impact. The program’s participants will now be matched with organizations to provide mentorship and strategic guidance, with a focus on creating sustainable and scalable change.