100 AAPI Board Members Making a Difference

As May is AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, we are pleased to spotlight accomplished AAPI board members who are making significant contributions to boardrooms across a vast range of industries from healthcare to banking to beauty. 

These 100 board members include the first woman to become Chief Marketing Officer at the world’s largest enterprise application software provider, an education technology expert awarded a number of patents for product innovations, and a member of YouTube’s first executive team that led the company from a 36 person team to the pioneering global business it is today. 

These individuals embody a wealth of experience and expertise as it relates to corporate governance and we are honored to celebrate them in this month’s issue of Board Recruitment. 

As we celebrate their achievements, it's crucial to acknowledge the broader context of representation and inclusion in corporate governance. Asian Americans make up 13% of the professional workforce and are the fastest growing demographic in America. But while Asian Americans are well represented in middle and senior management, representation at the executive level and in the boardroom is lagging. Asian and Pacific Islanders represent just 3% of executives and just 4% of Fortune 1000 board members. Representation for Asian and Pacific Islanders who identify as female further declines to just 1.5% of Fortune 1000 board members (source).

The benefits of diverse perspectives in the boardroom have been well documented. McKinsey & Company’s recent report “Diversity Matters Even More: The Case for Holistic Impact” finds that companies in the top quartile for ethnically diverse boards are 13% more likely to financially outperform those in the bottom quartile. Sitting board members themselves see the value in diverse perspectives at the boardroom table. In a recent survey of over 180 board members conducted by Korn Ferry, 81% of respondents reported seeing the benefits of diversity and inclusion. Respondents see a diverse boardroom as contributing to innovative solutions and improved problem-solving. 

However, truly harnessing the full power of a diverse board goes beyond representation. Every board member must also contribute to an environment where all voices are acknowledged and respected. 

For actionable steps toward inclusion in the boardroom, we suggest reviewing our recent article “Actionable Strategies to Support The Women on Your Board” where 20+ members of the BoardProspects community share their suggestions for supporting diverse perspectives on your board. Their contributions range from ensuring a good onboarding experience to the importance of building relationships outside the boardroom. 

Korn Ferry’s recent report “4 Ways to Develop the Optimal Board” also provides excellent suggestions for developing a board where every voice is heard and harnessed to create value for the company. 

A company and its stakeholders are entitled to the most qualified members possible at their boardroom table. Board diversity is a vital component of this standard.  

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to this month’s honorees and look forward to continuing this important dialogue on board recruitment and diversity.

For the full list of honorees, please access the complete issue.