This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Dr. Keith Dorsey. The two talk about the journey toward greater gender diversity in corporate boardrooms, the importance of cognitive diversity as a business imperative, and actionable strategies women can use to position themselves for board opportunities.
In this episode, we discuss:
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Dr. Keith Dorsey’s transition from a career as a turnaround specialist in corporate America and the U.S. Air Force into board advisory and executive coaching, and his eventual focus on increasing diversity on corporate boards.
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What inspired Dr. Dorsey’s recent book, The Boardroom Journey, which provides strategies for women pursuing board seats, and how this work stemmed from both his academic and practical experiences.
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When recent progress in women’s board representation saw a spike—from under 15% to over 30% in California and among Fortune 500/SP500 firms after 2018—but why these gains may have plateaued and what needs to happen next.
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Why women must control what they can, actively building their personal brand, networking widely, and repairing old relationships, to ensure future opportunities.
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How the “who knows you” factor is a game changer for board placement, visibility, reputation, and even relationships, to unexpected connections can make all the difference.
Dr. Keith D. Dorsey is an executive coach, thought leader, and author with 25+years of experience in leadership development, corporate governance, and OptimalDiversity™—a framework pairing visible demographics with hidden strengths like unique experiences and perspectives to boost performance. His book, The Boardroom Journey, delivers practical strategies for women pursuing board seats. Keith holds a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership from USC and an MBA from Pepperdine. As a trusted advisor, he empowers professionals to break barriers, build social capital, and lead with purpose at the highest organizational levels.
Website: www.boardroomjourney.com
Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-keith-d-dorsey-798a2681/
Book: https://a.co/d/8fvROyg
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