Becoming boardworthy.

• Author: Evans, Jane
• Position: Board of directors

It is not enough for a candidate to simply represent diversity. There must be a solid record of accomplishment.

What are boards looking for in a diverse candidate? What is some good advice for female executives who want to serve on a corporate board? These and other questions are addressed in the following article.

Are boards paying more attention to diversity?

Paul Ray: We see corporations recruiting diverse candidates at all levels of management, including the board. In 1993 for example, two-thirds of the searches to fill directors' seats by my firm were for female candidates. That's up 10% from the prior year.

Why is diversity valuable to a corporate board?

Jane Evans: Women can make a real difference on a board by bringing new skills and perspectives to the table. I attribute being asked to sit on different boards of directors to the diverse, yet related, knowledge I've acquired throughout my career. I've held a number of marketing positions in an array of industries, including fashion, direct mail, retail, finance, and telecommunications, and I'm very customer-focused - I have a strong sense of what the customer wants - and I have the skills to develop and market products that meet the customer's needs. Also, I have solid management experience. I can motivate and creatively challenge people so they know they're making a difference.

In today's environment, marketing and team-building are two skill sets very much in demand. Having reached the ranks of management relatively recently, I think women are in tune with current business trends and may not be as entrenched in their thinking as some of their male counterparts. They can often bring valuable perspectives and insights to a board of directors.

What are boards looking for in a candidate?

Ray: It's not enough for a candidate to simply represent diversity. There must be a solid record of accomplishment for a candidate to be taken seriously. An executive must have first-class credentials and deep knowledge of the industry or industries in which she's worked. Further, she should be "battle-tested." She needs to demonstrate that she's grappled with the sorts of issues she's likely to face as a director.

Evans: I was fortunate early in my career to work for people who were willing to give me a chance to succeed. When I worked at Genesco Inc., the chairman believed that the strongest employees should be thrown to the wolves. So at 25, he made me president of I. Miller Shoes. This gave me the...