Egon Zehnder, the world’s premier leadership advisory firm, today released its 2025 Global Board Inclusion Study, a survey of 450 corporate board directors worldwide that dug into the current sentiment around inclusion in the board room.
Amid the current complexity and challenges business leaders face today, an overwhelming majority of board directors worldwide believe that inclusive governance significantly enhances board effectiveness and overall company performance. In fact, 94% of surveyed directors report that embracing diverse viewpoints is a strategic priority, and 90% believe this inclusion leads to more informed decisions.
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From appointing younger directors and functional leaders to recruiting a wide range of directors, boards are ensuring a variety of viewpoints, experiences and skills when identifying new directors. In fact, 74% of board members surveyed agree that their business strategy requires a board with additional expertise and/or perspectives, and 49% have engaged in formal board effectiveness reviews to ensure all voices are meaningfully included on the board.
Inclusion, however, means more than a seat at the table. It’s also about fostering a culture where every voice is heard. A resounding 97% of directors say this is already true on their boards, and when it isn’t, they’re taking steps to improve it. Other key findings from the study include:
- Strategic Inclusion: 94% of directors say broadening representation across identities, skills, and experiences is an intentional strategy.
- Improved Performance: 85% believe diverse perspectives boost company performance, and 84% say it enhances board effectiveness.
- Functional Expertise: Over the past five years, commonly underrepresented areas of expertise including differentiated industry experts (48%), functional experts other than CEO or CFO (41%) and subject matter experts in key areas like AI or geopolitics (41%) have increased within boards.
While commitment is strong, directors cited challenges such as limited board seat capacity and narrow talent pools. A call for greater IT and technology expertise was also prevalent, reflecting evolving business priorities.
“Boards are seeking directors with fresh, strategic perspectives that reflect the markets they serve – this takes time and intentional planning,” said Cynthia Soledad, Egon Zehnder’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Practice leader. “These findings underscore that inclusion is not a fleeting trend but a vital element of long-term board strategy and company success.”
Methodology
The report surveyed 450 board directors across EMEA (44%), the US (29%), APAC (16%), and the rest of the Americas (11%). The majority are independent directors serving on two or more boards.
About Egon Zehnder
Egon Zehnder is the world’s preeminent leadership advisory firm, inspiring leaders to navigate complex questions with human answers. We help organizations get to the heart of their leadership challenges and offer honest feedback and insights to help leaders realize their true being and purpose. We are built on a foundation that supports partnership in the truest sense of the word and aligns our interests with the interests of our clients. Our 600 consultants across 67 offices and 36 countries are former industry and functional leaders who collaborate seamlessly to deliver the full power of the Firm to every client, every time. We believe that together we can transform people, organizations and the world through leadership.
Source – Egon Zehnder
