We’ve long believed that what’s good for women is good for business. A recent report provides compelling data.

A Catalyst study of Fortune 500 companies nationwide shows that those companies with more women board members perform significantly better on key financial measures:

-Return on Equity: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the lowest by 53 percent.

-Return on Sales: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the lowest by 42 percent.

-Return on Invested Capital: On average, companies with the highest percentages of women board directors outperformed those with the least by 66 percent.

The Catalyst study, released in October 2007, also points out notably stronger-than-average performance at companies with a critical mass of three or more women board directors.

For leading companies in Missouri and Kansas, the data from the following Women’s Executive Leadership Census 2007 suggest that the pipeline of executive women in our region is a serious constraint to board participation.

Our region lags national statistics in the number of women in executive positions. And without women with executive experience, board nominating committees lack strong female candidates.

The Central Exchange and The Bloch School at UMKC are committed to developing leaders and filling the women’s leadership pipeline. We believe those tasks are critical to creating a vibrant, healthy business community. We are pleased to partner on the first Women’s Executive Leadership Census 2007 to strengthen women’s leadership and, ultimately, the performance of companies in Missouri and Kansas.

At UMKC, we’re filling the pipeline by recruiting highly successful business women as students in our Executive MBA program. Over the last three years, women have averaged 44% of EMBA’s at The Bloch School compared to a national average of 26%. We’ve also hired a number of women into key decision-making roles at The Bloch School to provide role models and a dynamic climate.

The Central Exchange has sharpened its focus on executive women in recent years. We’ve added leadership programs exclusive to executive women such as the Senior Leader Track at our annual leadership conference,The Central Exchange Women’s Lyceum. Our annual Women of the Year: Salute to Leadership event recognizes women leaders who are inspiration to all of us.

We know that building the pipeline of future leaders takes more than leadership development programs. It means putting the right potential talent into the pipeline. It takes intentional effort to fill the pipeline with women leaders. We hope the Women’s Executive Leadership Census 2007 helps prime the pump for women.

Because what’s good for women is good for business.

Click here to view entire report.