Dive Brief:

• Only 10% of board members on corporate boards of directors have professional tech experience, according to new research from Accenture.
• The research found that 16% of female directors and 9% of male directors had professional tech experience. 
• Among the global population, the U.S. had the highest percentage of female directors with professional technology experience, at 26% (versus 17% of male board members). 

Dive Insight:

Given the digital environment in which most companies operate today, professional technology experience can be beneficial for any board. Those with tech experience on boards can also help to prioritize technology agendas that can help companies remain competitive. 

"As technology disrupts virtually every industry, companies need to think more broadly about the type of skills and experience needed for their boards, including getting more technology acumen into the boardroom," said Roxanne Taylor, Accenture’s chief marketing and communications officer. "Women directors with technology experience bring diversity and valuable insight – a clear recipe for strategic advantage."

The study examined women’s representation on the boards of more than 500 Forbes Global 2000 companies in 39 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Australia. 

The lack of gender diversity in technology has been an ongoing focus. According to recent analysis from Korn Ferry, women comprise only 19% of the CIO positions across six major industries looking at the top 1,000 U.S. companies by revenue.