Shannon Nash

And I want to echo what everyone has said. First, thank you for having us on this podcast. Secondly, it's always a privilege to be around these two lovely leaders and ladies. So thank you for bringing us back together. We did a panel together not too long ago. And so this is just bringing the gang back together and we're loving it. But I am Shannon Nash.

And I want to echo what everyone has said. First, thank you for having us on this podcast. Secondly, it's always a privilege to be around these two lovely leaders and ladies. So thank you for bringing us back together. We did a panel together not too long ago. And so this is just bringing the gang back together and we're loving it. But I am Shannon Nash.

I serve on public and private company boards. I'm on the board of SoFi Bank, NetScout Systems, and Lazy Dog Restaurants. I chair both audit and compensation committees. But my background is I'm a former tech CFO and COO. A lot of experience in M&A, IPOs. Like you said, I practiced law. I was at Cooley and K&L Gates. And I also started my career at KPMG.

I serve on public and private company boards. I'm on the board of SoFi Bank, NetScout Systems, and Lazy Dog Restaurants. I chair both audit and compensation committees. But my background is I'm a former tech CFO and COO. A lot of experience in M&A, IPOs. Like you said, I practiced law. I was at Cooley and K&L Gates. And I also started my career at KPMG.

So just built a career across biotech, tech, law, media, fintech, and really have been able to turn that into my passion for governance, growth strategy, and leadership. And then outside the boardroom and how we actually got together with these ladies is I produced a film called On Board, which

So just built a career across biotech, tech, law, media, fintech, and really have been able to turn that into my passion for governance, growth strategy, and leadership. And then outside the boardroom and how we actually got together with these ladies is I produced a film called On Board, which

which really tells the story of the first black woman that got on a board, but it explores the dynamics of corporate boardrooms and about like who's really getting seats at the table. So we, you know, we're celebrating a couple of years of that film being out. I'm super proud of that.

which really tells the story of the first black woman that got on a board, but it explores the dynamics of corporate boardrooms and about like who's really getting seats at the table. So we, you know, we're celebrating a couple of years of that film being out. I'm super proud of that.

And finally, I'm spending a lot of time just really counseling and helping particularly other women with their board aspirations.

And finally, I'm spending a lot of time just really counseling and helping particularly other women with their board aspirations.

So her name was Patricia Roberts Harris, and she joined the board of IBM in 1970. A true trailblazer. She was in Jimmy Carter's cabinet. She was the dean of Howard Law School. You know, what wasn't she? And it's super remarkable that she was able to accomplish that in 1970, given her background and experience. And, you know, just how she was the first of everything that she did.

So her name was Patricia Roberts Harris, and she joined the board of IBM in 1970. A true trailblazer. She was in Jimmy Carter's cabinet. She was the dean of Howard Law School. You know, what wasn't she? And it's super remarkable that she was able to accomplish that in 1970, given her background and experience. And, you know, just how she was the first of everything that she did.

It's really lonely to be the first. But I think she really showed that, you know, it gives other people permission to really strive because you see it and believe it. Why not? And lots of people came after her. But we wanted to make sure that Patricia Robert Harris got her.

It's really lonely to be the first. But I think she really showed that, you know, it gives other people permission to really strive because you see it and believe it. Why not? And lots of people came after her. But we wanted to make sure that Patricia Robert Harris got her.

Appropriately credited for being the first one, because prior to us making that film, Scott, when you Googled the first African-American woman on a board, you actually got somebody else's name and we were able to correct that.

Appropriately credited for being the first one, because prior to us making that film, Scott, when you Googled the first African-American woman on a board, you actually got somebody else's name and we were able to correct that.

Well, what I'll say is that, you know, we've obviously since 1970, but quite frankly, in the last 10 years, I'll say, look, we've made some progress. But in particular, and I will say the last year or so, momentum is slow. It really has. There's an organization called 50-50 Women on Boards, and they do a report every year. And I'll give you a couple of stats.

Well, what I'll say is that, you know, we've obviously since 1970, but quite frankly, in the last 10 years, I'll say, look, we've made some progress. But in particular, and I will say the last year or so, momentum is slow. It really has. There's an organization called 50-50 Women on Boards, and they do a report every year. And I'll give you a couple of stats.

Women hold roughly about 30% of all board seats across Russell 3000 companies. And also, if you look at Fortune 500 companies, it's roughly about 30%. That's meaningful because in 2018, women were at roughly about 17%. But what we have seen lately is that increase when you look at a year-over-year basis has really slowed to roughly about 1%.

Women hold roughly about 30% of all board seats across Russell 3000 companies. And also, if you look at Fortune 500 companies, it's roughly about 30%. That's meaningful because in 2018, women were at roughly about 17%. But what we have seen lately is that increase when you look at a year-over-year basis has really slowed to roughly about 1%.