17 companies recognized by EWNJ for giving women ‘a seat at the table’

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Seventeen companies are being lauded for their efforts in ensuring equal access for women in the boardroom and executive leadership roles.

Unveiled Sept 26, Executive Women of New Jersey’s biennial “A Seat at the Table Honor Roll” list recognizes companies with 35% or more women in top leadership roles.

This year’s list commemorates the 10-year anniversary of the organization’s “A Seat at the Table” report, which is regarded as  instrumental in promoting and tracking diverse representation in corporate leadership, according to EWNJ.

The newly announced honorees are:

• ADP
• AdvanSix
• American Water
• The Children’s Place
• CompoSecure
• Essential Properties REIT
• Johnson & Johnson
• Merck & Co.
• Organon & Co.
• PMV Pharmaceuticals
• Prudential Financial
• PSEG
• PTC Therapeutics
• Quest Diagnostics
• Universal Display Corp.
• Verisk Analytics
• Zoetis

EWNJ President Courtney McCormick congratulated the companies and thanked each for “their pioneering efforts in promoting diversity in senior governance roles.”

“We humbly recognize that our biennial report has been a key motivator for companies to diversify their top leadership, which is why we’re proud to celebrate 10 years of perseverance and progress with this year’s Honor Roll,” she commented.

“Companies are realizing that businesses perform better when women are in top leadership positions, something our research has consistently found to be true,” McCormick continued. “Each report illustrates our state’s economic well-being and the growing presence of women in top-tier corporate positions. When companies acknowledge the value of diversity, it sets off a positive chain reaction that goes beyond the confines of the boardroom. This influence permeates organizational culture and leaves an undeniable mark across New Jersey.”

Honorees will be recognized at an awards breakfast and networking event Oct. 26 at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park.

The morning will also include the release of EWNJ’s sixth report on gender diversity in top leadership roles at New Jersey public companies, as well as a fireside chat with Dress for Success chief executive officer Michele Meyer-Shipp and EWNJ immediate past president Anna Maria Tejada.

Susan Dromsky-Reed, president-elect and chair of the seat committee at EWNJ, said, “Today’s progress sends a powerful message to generations of women, especially young women leaders, that their ambitions are not only supported but encouraged.”

“When EWNJ began recognizing companies a decade ago, corporate boardrooms were largely male. Our original benchmark served as an attainable standard for companies at the time. However, since that time, boards have made significant strides in prioritizing gender diversity,” she stated.

“The 10-year anniversary of our A Seat at the Table report marks the perfect time to modernize our metric and set the tone for years ahead. While progress is being made, there is still much more that can be done to increase equal opportunity for women ascending the corporate ladder. I extend my congratulations to the 17 companies and look forward to recognizing them at this year’s breakfast,” Dromsky-Reed remarked.

Founded in 1980, EWNJ aims to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards and in top leadership positions at New Jersey corporations. As part of that mission, the organization publishes a biennial report on the number of women on boards and in the senior governance of Garden State-based public companies.

Additionally, EWNJ hosts an array of events designed to offer women executives networking opportunities and raise money for its Graduate Merit Award Program, an initiative focused on creating a pipeline of women leaders.

Considered the largest provider of scholarships to women who are non-traditional graduate students in New Jersey, the effort has awarded more $1.3 million to candidates over the past 30 years.