Board gender diversity, feminine culture, and innovation for environmental sustainability

A woman smiles at the camera. On her left is a man, and her right is a woman. They are all typing at computers.

Ofra Bazel-Shoham and colleagues explored how board gender diversity and cultural norms shape corporate environmental innovation (EI). Their findings reveal that gender-diverse boards significantly increase EI, particularly when a critical mass of women is present. However, cultural context moderates these effects: while masculine cultures tend to suppress EI, the inclusion of women on boards has an augmented positive impact in such settings. This study highlights the critical role of board composition and cultural factors in driving sustainability, offering practical insights for promoting environmental innovation within firms.