Are inclusion riders imperative for better diversity?

If you had asked me this question 10 years ago, I would have said we do not need inclusion riders, and that women would rise to the top on merit. However, if we take a linear approach on the gender gap, it will take us 150 years to bridge it. Inclusion riders need to be adopted as a company-wide mission at the board level and driven top down if we want the diversity agenda to go beyond token representation of minorities.

India has initiated the inclusion process with new regulations, which mandate at least one independent female director on the board of a listed company. We have seen how effective the 30% club campaign has been in driving its signatories (companies on the Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 Index) to commit to greater representation (a minimum of 30%) of women on their boards. A diverse team gives you better business outcomes.