You are a leader who invests time and resources in the ESG agenda and actively pursues excellence in Corporate Governance. But what if the factor that truly differentiates the most effective Boards from the rest has been overlooked?
Most companies understand the importance of ESG compliance and the value of diversity, but few recognize the direct and indispensable correlation between gender balance and the maturity of ESG knowledge at the board level.
This is the gap that 30% Club Brazil and FGV Law – São Paulo, with the support of IBGC, set out to address. Together, we conducted an unprecedented study focused on companies included in the IBrX 100 index, providing a crucial diagnosis for the future of Brazilian corporate leadership. And yes, the data points to a truth you need to know before setting your 2026 goals!
The study, developed by Alessandra Lehmen (30% Club Brazil), Viviane Muller Prado (FGV Law – São Paulo), and Tarsila Ferro De La Bandera Arcos (30% Club Brazil and FGV Law – São Paulo), entitled “ESG and Gender Balance on Boards of Directors: An Analysis of Companies in the IBrX 100 Index,” goes beyond measuring the status quo; it uncovers a blind spot.
First, it provides a competency mapping by assessing board members’ level of ESG knowledge. This finding alone represents a legitimacy imperative: knowing where your board stands in terms of preparedness is essential for any serious planning process.
However, the study’s most important insight lies in the interdependence of factors. The analysis reveals a strong correlation between boards with greater gender balance and higher levels of expertise and engagement in the ESG agenda.
The diversity of perspectives, rather than being merely a social objective, is proven to be a strategic catalyst that accelerates both the depth of discussion and the implementation of Sustainability (S) and Governance (G) initiatives.
In other words: for your company to achieve excellence in ESG, increasing female representation is a strategic necessity for business performance.
The research therefore serves as the missing map of risks and opportunities. It not only diagnoses the current scenario but also delivers practical guidelines for regulators and companies, focusing on how to accelerate progress toward the goal of 30% women on Boards.
If you are a governance leader, the implications are clear: investing in gender balance is not optional, but a lever to safeguard and optimize your ESG strategy.
Would you like to have the full diagnosis in hand to ensure that your company’s strategic guidelines for 2026 are solid? Download the complete study now:
Path to Parity!
