While only 16 of the newly appointed women board members (18.8% of new women appointments) chose to self-disclose their race, boards must continue to diversify and the data continues to highlight the value of disclosure. 

In December, Asian/Pacific Islander women took the lead in board appointments with 9 women each being appointed to public boards, making up 62.5% of all appointments. They are closely followed by 4 Black / African American women (25.0%). Companies such as The Honest Company, Inc., Dominion Energy, Inc., and Talkspace, Inc. are leading the way as part of a phenomenal group that have appointed diverse women to their boards. 

Of the 86 women appointed to the boards of public companies, 43, or 50.0%, were first-time board appointments. In December, Healthcare companies led the way in the appointment of women followed by  Technology, Industrials, and Consumer Cyclical companies, with appointed women filling 33.7% of board seats at Healthcare companies and 12.8% each at Technology, Industrials, and Consumer Cyclical companies. In the Technology industry, we see strides being made by women at companies like Microsoft Corporation.