Another Successful 2020 Women on Boards Event

November 15, 2018 marked Pittsburgh’s 4th year participating in the annual National Conversation on Board Diversity, an event of 2020 Women on Boards. Pittsburgh was one of 22 cities around the world to hold their own conversation. This year, events reach as far as London and Mexico City.

The mission of the initiative is to reach 20 percent female representation on corporate boards by the year 2020. Thus far, the initiative has been so successful, with Fortune 1000 companies achieving the 20 percent mark, that it was decided to wrap Russell 3000 companies into the fold as well. Specifically in Pittsburgh, the goal was reached for publicly traded companies, so this year a focus was put on having CEOs of privately held companies participate in the conversation as well.

With a variety of accomplished speakers, attendees heard from David Malone, President & CEO of Gateway Financial and Carrie Coghill, President / CEO of Coghill Investment Strategies, who led a discussion on how all of us can partner with Pittsburgh companies in order to increase gender diversity on their boards.

There was also a panel discussion focusing on different paths to the board room. Dr. Chris Howard, President of Robert Morris University interviewed three board members – our own Christy Uffelman, President of Align Leadership, Lara Washington, President of Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corp, and Diane Pearse, CEO and President of Hickory Farms, LLC. – about their own board trajectory stories and best practices for those who want to serve on a board.

Additionally, the Pittsburgh campaign for 2020 Women on Boards partnered with the National Association of Corporate Directors Three Rivers Chapter to develop breakout sessions for each attendee. Sessions were specifically designed to meet the attendee where they are in their own career path – to give them practical advice and next steps to develop board readiness skills.

With 330 attendees, the event continues to be a tremendous achievement in both Pittsburgh and beyond.