Societies have come a long way in their endeavour to bring gender parity across various life domains. Women have always been accorded a subordinate status compared to their male counterparts - be it the personal or professional front. Governments and/or social organisations across the globe have been actively initiating innumerable programs to sensitise people and bring about gender equality. Legislations have been enacted, and their adherence has also been ensured, but sadly, societies are still far from giving women a fair chance, especially when it comes to top leadership positions in the corporate world. It is time that responsible societies strive to address the issue with greater vigour and supplement the legislation with additional measures to bring in the required attitudinal change. This paper attempts to appraise the present status of gender diversity on boards, explore reasons for imbalance and suggest pragmatic solutions, with evidence from literature and candid opinions (obtained through unstructured interactions) of individuals who have been on boards for over a decade.

KEYWORDS: Gender Diversity, Cultural Change, Women in Leadership, Legislation, Equal Opportunity, Corporate Governance, Gender Parity.