The Thirty Percent Coalition is Now Invest Ahead!

The Thirty Percent Coalition has come a long way.

In 2012, a group of large institutional investors and asset managers came together to increase the number of women on corporate boards in the U.S.  In response to industry research showing the benefit of gender diversity, their goal was for 30% of seats on every corporate board in America to be held by women.  The Thirty Percent Coalition was born.

For the next twelve years, Thirty Percent Coalition members, who represent $8 trillion in AUM, engaged with their portfolio companies to make the case for board diversity and urge those companies to improve the diversity of their boards.  As a result of these efforts and the growing national movement to include women in corporate leadership, in 2024, we reached the 30% goal!

At the same time, societal and demographic changes raised the imperative to increase diversity in all forms in the boardroom. Over time, the Thirty Percent Coalition broadened its mission to include diversity of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability.

Today, in acknowledgment of the work still to be done, we have changed our name to “Invest Ahead.”

Board diversity buttresses financial returns, helps to manage risk, and futureproofs companies:

• In a country that is itself becoming more diverse, top talent can come from anywhere, not just the board candidate pipelines of the past.
• A more diverse population also means employee workforces are becoming more diverse, and new customer segments are emerging.  Lacking diverse representation and an understanding of these changes on a board may mean missing out on opportunities. 
• Diverse groups also tend to be more innovative, and resist the “groupthink” that can get companies into trouble when no one is asking the tough questions.

Board diversity is essential for success in a rapidly changing world.  It’s just good business.  And together, we will continue to Invest Ahead.