An Empirical Test of the Assumption that Female and Male Directors Contribute Different Perspectives

Abstract

There is a substantial disbalance in the number of women versus men in leadership positions. Stereotypes about how women behave in such positions permeate popular discourse, yet little is known about whether and how female leaders are actually different from their male counterparts in their behavior, perspectives, and ideas—let alone how they shape important processes in their organizations. We investigate 110,221 statements made by directors during board meetings and unearth that women focus more on processual matters and that men are distinctly outcome-focused. The extent to which a diversity of female and male topics is discussed in turn increases the degree of monitoring by the board. Women thus do shape decision-making by focusing discussions on unique topics.