Today, someone asked me, “What’s your take on board diversity?” Here’s my take: diversity is great, but let’s stop treating it like a checklist of appearances. True diversity is about outcomes, not inputs.
Imagine you’re running a transport company. Should your focus be on ticking boxes for who you hire, or should it be ensuring that everyone no matter their background can access affordable, reliable transport? The value is in the service you deliver, not just in how your team looks on a glossy report.
The same applies to boards. It’s not about filling seats for the sake of diversity; it’s about having the right people with the right skills and experience to drive results. If you can’t deliver value, you don’t deserve a seat. A diverse board that doesn’t deliver is like a shiny new bus that never leaves the station impressive to look at, but useless where it matters.
Let’s stop confusing diversity with mere optics. It’s about delivering impact, outcomes, and value. Anything else? Just noise.
Mr. Strategy
