Every July, Black Enterprise magazine identifies the “40 Best Companies for Diversity” (on newsstands now). In addition, we compile sublists for the “Best Companies for Senior Management Diversity,” “Best Companies for Supplier Diversity,” “Best Companies for Workforce Diversity,” and “Best Companies for Board Diversity.” These “sublists” include companies that are strong in one particular category of diversity. It is possible that a company might make the sublist and not the main list.
The directors of corporate boards play a critical part in the business development of a corporation, but their impact on a company’s commitment to diversity is even more vital. Banking on board diversity means a company is in tune with the resources that black executives provide in bridging not only diverse communities with the company, but also in parlaying their experience from a particular industry to benefit the bottom line. Those few blacks who are selected to govern the operations of a company are also in position to mentor black executives and serve as a catalyst to reverse racism in corporate America.
The companies that made the Board Diversity sublist outperformed other corporations in the percentage of African Americans and other ethnic minority groups represented on their corporate boards.
We will also highlight these companies in the Diversity Watch section in upcoming issues of BE. Check back Monday to BlackEnterprise.com for our 15 Best Companies for Senior Management.
Click on the Diversity Information column below for more information about diversity at a specific company.
| 15 Best in Board Diversity | |
| COMPANY | DIVERSITY INFORMATION |
| Aetna Inc., Hartford, CT | Insurance |
| American Express Co., New York, NY | Financial Services |
| AMR Corp., Fort Worth, TX | Airline |
| AutoZone Inc., Memphis, TN | Automotive |
| BNSF Railway, Fort Worth, TX | Locomotives |
| Citigroup Inc., New York, NY | Financial Services |
| Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY | Imaging |
| Exelon Corp., Chicago, IL | Utilities |
| Marriott International Inc., Bethesda, MD | Lodging |
| Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., New York, NY | Financial Services |
| MGM Mirage, Las Vegas, NV | Hotels, Casinos, and Resorts |
| Starbucks Corp., Seattle, WA | Food Services |
| Verizon Communications Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ | Telecommunications |
| WGL Holdings Inc., Washington, DC | Utilities |
| Xerox Corp., Rochester, NY | Computer and Office Equipment |
To see all 40 companies on The 2008 BLACK ENTERPRISE Best Companies for Diversity pick up a copy of Black Enterprise magazine’s July 2008 issue. –THE EDITORS
Our Methodology:
The 2008 BLACK ENTERPRISE