Illinois Boardrooms: Evaluating Progress and Implications for Latino Leaders

One year ago, LCDA released the Latino Board Monitor: State of Illinois report, following a comprehensive analysis of Latino board representation on publicly traded companies headquartered in Illinois. The report detailed a significant disparity: Latinos who make up 18% of the state's population held only 3.1% of board positions and 20.4% of public companies headquartered in the state had a Latino serving on their board of directors.?

Today, new research shows a slight improvement, with Latinos comprising 3.5% of public board seats in Illinois—just a 0.4% increase from the prior year, and only 25.5% include a Latino on their board of directors .

Recognizing that Latinos constitute a significant portion of the Illinois population, but remain disproportionately underrepresented in corporate governance, LCDA implemented a multifaceted engagement strategy to address the stark under-representation of Latinos on Illinois corporate boards. By emphasizing the economic and ethical imperatives of inclusive leadership, LCDA aimed to spark conversations with key boardroom leaders across the state.

"Conducting comprehensive research on board composition is crucial, especially in light of the current lack of transparency in company reporting. Understanding the composition of a board is essential for fostering inclusive governance and ensuring that boards represent the communities they serve.” - Luis Barragán Robles, aPHR , Talent Intelligence Lead, LCDA

LCDA engaged in discussions with Portillo's , Old Republic International Corp., Keypath Education International, OneSpan , Deere & Co., Adtalem Global Education , 凯悦 , Enova International , TransUnion , and 发现金融服务公司 . Additionally, LCDA received acknowledgement of our outreach from Cars.com , RLI Corp., Federal Signal Corporation , Ryerson Holding Corp., Conagra Brands , Tootsie Roll Industries , Methode Electronics , and CME Group . LCDA recognizes these organizations for their commitment to leveraging inclusive talent sourcing and their efforts in striving for better representation on their boards.?View the complete list of companies with or without Latino board representation here.

“By establishing strong connections with corporate leaders, we can ensure that qualified Latino candidates are considered for these positions. This proactive approach opens doors to board opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible." - Tracy Michelle León , Director, Talent Demand, LCDA

While there is still work to do, LCDA is unwavering in its commitment to driving significant change. As stewards of good governance, LCDA is dedicated to facilitating opportunities for Latino boardroom representation. Supported by its members, inclusive boards, and the longstanding partnership with Latino Voices for Boardroom Equity (LVBE), a coalition of national Latino organizations including: the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), UnidosUS (@WeAreUnidosUS) , and the MALDEF - Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund , LVBE asserts diversity without the inclusion of Latinos is not acceptable.?

We invite you to continue the conversation on Wednesday, June 26 for a LinkedIn Live event to learn how you can drive the change we all seek. Together, we can achieve greater equity and inclusion on corporate boards. Click here , to attend the event.