Inforum to Release Michigan Women's Leadership Index

Rebecca Blumenstein

Research shows that diversity makes good business sense. What can be done to unlock the benefits that diversity adds to shareholder value and profitability?

On Oct. 17 at the Westin Hotel, Southfield, Inforum and Inforum Center for Leadership (ICL) host a panel of distinguished executives who will address actions to boost the number of women on Michigan’s corporate boards to create a competitive edge. The event will be presented by Inforum BoardAccess™ Initiative, created to help develop qualified women candidates for seats on public and private corporate boards of directors.

The event, titled “Claiming Corporate Leadership: Michigan Women’s Leadership Index and the Future of Our State,” also will include the release of ICL’s biennial Michigan Women’s Leadership Index (MWLI), which evaluates the progress of women’s leadership at Michigan’s top public companies. As in 2009, the research for the MWLI is being conducted by the Eastern Michigan University College of Business. 

Leading the discussion on Oct. 17 will be Rebecca Blumenstein of the Wall Street Journal. She is deputy managing editor, international editor, and a leader of the Journal’s ground- breaking Women in the Economy Task Force. A Michigan native, Blumenstein is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Panelists include:

• Dennis Archer, independent corporate director, former Mayor of Detroit
     Perspective: The challenge of diversity on boards
• Cynthia Brinkley, vice president, global human resources, General Motors
     Perspective: Tone at the top is critical in building a pipeline of women leaders
• Meredith Miller, chief corporate governance officer, UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust
     Perspective: Why institutional shareholders encourage board diversity
• Donald R. Parfet, lead director, Kelly Services; founder and general partner, Apjohn Group
     Perspective: Entrepreneurial and VC experience enhances board culture
• Holly Van Deursen, independent director, angel investor, former Group VP of BP
     Perspective:  European-style quotas and angel investing as paths to board service

Registration starts at 11:30 a.m., with luncheon and panel at 12 p.m. Cost for Inforum members is $50, and $65 for nonmembers. A table of 10 is $575. For more information and to register online, www.InforumMichigan.org.