Women on Boards CIC® empowers audience involvement to inform and shape policy for leadership and board diversity; feeding in real-world insights and examples of the challenges faced by women in the entrepreneurial landscape.
In just its first year, Women on Boards CIC® (WOB CIC) has united individuals from a range of industries to build a powerful community that is radically working to reshape the boardroom landscape across the UK.
Unprecedented impact
Unlike any other organisation, WOB CIC has embedded a structured Think Tank into its DNA - actively calling on its audience to assess the past, present, and future challenges within the leadership arena. This is policy formulation under the microscope, driven by a genuine passion for change and a commitment to groundbreaking evidence-based advocacy. “We believe that sustainable change is driven by those who live and breathe the issues every day,” said co-founders Payal Walker and Sandra Wiggins. “By involving our audience in shaping our research, which will feed into comprehensive recommendations, we ensure our proposals are not only theoretically sound but also deeply rooted in the lived realities of women striving for leadership.”
Breaking the mould The old vs. the new The old guard has always been a top-down dictatorship.
Historically, policy formation has been an opaque, top-down process. Established powerhouses, bureaucratic agendas, and closed-door lobbying have dictated boardroom norms - often sidelining the voices of those most affected.
This old model has perpetuated inequity, leaving the majority of aspiring leaders with little say in the policies that shape their futures.
A new, revolutionary approach, which is inclusive, data-driven, and transparent.
Women on Boards CIC® has made a significant impact towards shattering this outdated paradigm by inviting everyone - from industry professionals and academics to grassroots advocates - to participate in policy formulation.
This unprecedented, participatory model harnesses direct feedback through regular Think Tank sessions where real-life data and compelling evidence have converged. Participants don’t simply observe, they have come together to assess, collaborate, scrutinise past trends, evaluate current challenges, and envision a future where diversity in leadership is the norm.
This inclusive approach ignites a dynamic dialogue that disrupts the conventional silos that separate policymakers from the communities they serve.
And, in democratising the policy-making process, WOB CIC is generating robust research whilst also compiling actionable recommendations that challenge the status quo and tackle the many systemic issues being faced.
Building change together WOB CIC’s rallying cry is clear and powerful: “We’re not just talking about change - our goals is to build it in the most inclusive way possible.” The unique inclusivity of the Think Tank has bought together a range of stakeholders to contribute their perspectives and shape recommendations that advocate for arrangements and policies that bring about positive change. WOB CIC’s aim continues, as the group works hard, to create a boardroom landscape where diverse leadership is not the exception, but the norm. The shock factor is undeniable, as you read, you may have been asking yourself ‘why has it never been done this way before?’ The answer lies in the entrenched tradition of closed-door policymaking. Women on Boards CIC® is tearing down those walls and setting a new, transparent, and inclusive standard for the 21st century - a standard where every voice is heard, and diverse leadership is the expectation, not the exception. Help to transform the boardroom For more information, please contact WOB CIC’s media partner: Harpreet Stevenson
Director, of Collective Companion Marketing Solutions
Or
visit Women on Boards CIC®’s website https://www.womenonboardscic.com/ to learn more.
Women on Boards CIC is focused on changing both the conversation and the boardroom for good.
Attendees at the February 2025 final in-person Think Tank, which has been delivered through a mixture of online and face to face events.
