This document summarizes a webinar about advancing women as leaders in Rotary International. It explores barriers to women's leadership in Rotary and discusses the benefits of diversity. Some key points made include that organizational health and results are stronger when there are 3 or more women in top leadership positions. It also notes that Rotary's current path to leadership is outdated according to many members. The webinar recommends actions like updating policies and procedures, educating members on diversity and inclusion, and elevating the visibility of underrepresented groups to advance women's leadership in Rotary.

1. WE ARE ROTARY:
ADVANCING WOMEN
AS LEADERS
Rotary International
Membership Development
August 2019

2. 2
Beth Keck
Rotary Club of
Bentonville, USA
Dr. ‘Bowtie’ Todd Jenkins
Rotary Club of
Fayetteville, USA
YOUR FACILITATORS

3. 3
EXPLORE BARRIERS
CHALLENGE MINDSETS
DISCUSS BENEFITS OF
DIVERSITY
DEVELOP ACTIONS

4. 4
POLL
I have power over whether Rotary is an organization
that promotes diversity, equity, & inclusion.

5. 5
How is your club working to elevate the presence of
underrepresented groups as members?
YOU SAID:
Reaching out to underrepresented
communities to make connections 34%
Talking openly about why our club lacks diversity 22%
Shifting our institutional perspective
about leadership
8%
Updating our policies and procedures 6%
Haven’t begun to address this yet 22%
1976 webinar responses

6. 6
WOMEN AS LEADERS

7. 7
STRONGER
Organizational health
RESULTS OF 3 OR MORE
WOMEN AT THE TOP
BROADER
Leadership capabilities
IMPROVED
Decision making
INCREASED
Diversity of thought
WIDER
Talent pool
BETTER MATCH
For customers & clients

8. 8
WOMEN LEADERS IN ROTARY

9. 9
2018 COUNCIL ON RESOLUTIONS, NOVEMBER 2018
Resolution 18R-30: To request the RI Board to
consider promoting women in Rotary
Adopted – YES 322 No 172
Resolution 18R-31: To request the RI Board to
consider increasing opportunities for women,
young leaders, and people of different races and
ethnicities to serve in district, zone and RI leadership
positions
Adopted – YES 304 No 192

10. 1 0
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION POSITION STATEMENT
As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take
action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the
contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity,
race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual
orientation, and gender identity.
Rotary will cultivate a
diverse, equitable and inclusive culture
in which people from underrepresented groups have
greater opportunity to participate as members and leaders.
RI Board of Directors, January 2019

11. 1 1
2019 COUNCIL ON LEGISLATION, APRIL 2019
4.070. Limitations on Membership. Notwithstanding the
provisions of section 2.030., no club, regardless of the
date of its admission to membership in RI, may by
provisions in its constitution or otherwise, limit
membership in the club on the basis of gender,
race, color, creed, national origin, or sexual
orientation or impose any condition of membership not
specifically prescribed by the RI constitution or bylaws.
Each club shall endeavor to build a
well-balanced membership that
celebrates diversity.

12. 1 2
The RI Board of Directors
sets a goal for the number of women in
Rotary & Rotary leadership positions
to be 30 percent by June 2023
RI Board of Directors, January 2019

13. 1 3
23% OF ROTARIANS ARE WOMEN
32%
USA,
Canada &
Caribbean
29%
Latin
America
28%
Australia,
New Zealand
32%
Africa &
Middle East
18%
RIBI*
18%
Europe
28%
Central &
SE Asia
7%
Japan
22%
Korea
12%
India
*Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland

14. 1 4
26%
0
District governors
Source: Rotary International as of July 1, 2019
WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP, 2019-2020
Club presidents
Regional leaders
RI Directors
RI President
21%
28%
10%
Club presidents
District governors
Regional Leaders
RI Directors
RI President

15. 1 5
The current path to becoming a leader
in Rotary is outdated.
YOU SAID:
Strongly Agree 18%
Agree 44%
Disagree 35%
Strongly Disagree 3%
1950 webinar responses

16. 1 6
CHANGES TO RI DIRECTOR & TRF TRUSTEES
RI Directors
TRF Trustees

17. 1 7
POLICIES & PRACTICES
PERSONAL CHOICES
INSTITUTIONAL MINDSETS
INDIVIDUAL MINDSETS
THE BARRIERS

18. 1 8
Behaviors
Identity,
needs & fears
Thoughts & feelings
Beliefs & values
Behaviors
Source: McKinsey
“Perhaps it is Rotary itself
that needs to change its
mindset & its culture…”
Thomas Swan, The Rotarian
November 2018
Behaviors
MINDSETS ARE
HARD TO CHANGE

19. 1 9
DIVERSITY

20. 2 0
INCLUSION

21. 2 1
EQUITY

22. 2 2

23. 2 3
DIVERSITY EQUITY
INCLUSION

24. 2 4
POLL
How should we select our
leaders in Rotary?

25. 2 5
ACTIONS

26. 2 6
AT THE CLUB, DISTRICT AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL,
CONSIDER:
What policies & practices
prevent women from
being leaders?
563 actions
Recommended by ~500 Rotarians
RI Convention 2019
What mindsets create
barriers for women?

27. 2 7
1. Update RI processes
& policies
2. Elevate visibility of
underrepresented groups
3. Increase transparency for
advancement
4. Promote mentorship
5. Educate on DEI
6. Create an inclusive
environment
7. Increase women,
younger members
8. Hold Rotarians
accountable
RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM IC19

28. 2 8
Which of these is the most important action Rotary
can take in order to advance women?
YOU SAID:
Elevate the visibility of
underrepresented groups 32%
Educate members about DEI 23%
Promote mentorship 17%
Increase transparency for advancement 13%
Update the governing documents,
policies & processes
12%
1952 webinar responses

29. 2 9
“Currently it takes an immense
amount of time to acquire all the
qualifications required to be RI
president......if I just did all the
required things…the earliest I
could be considered for RI
president is when I’m in my late
50s. Our future Board will look
pretty much as it does today.”
Sandhya Maini
Ontario, Canada
The Rotarian, November 2018
• Recognize personal
& professional
excellence
• Fast-track
promising leaders
• Increase
transparency
• Reform selection
process, role
expectations
UPDATE POLICIES,
PROCESSES
& PROCEDURES

30. 3 0
“I saw there were women in leadership and
thought I can do that and I want to do that.
It made the path much easier for me to follow.”
Karen DeMatteo, DG, District 7410
International Assembly, January 2019
• Equal representation on stage at Rotary events & programs
• Equal representation on committees
• Events celebrating women
ELEVATE VISIBILITY OF UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS

31. 3 1
• Members receive DEI
training
• Establish RI, zone &
district DEI coordinators
• Leverage local experts
EDUCATE ON DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)

32. 3 2
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
ROTARY.ORG/
MEMBERSHIP
GOVERNANCE
DOCUMENTS
ONLINE MENTOR
COURSE

33. 3 3
NEXT STEPS
 Be intentional
 Create an inclusive environment
 Reach out to underrepresented groups
 Hold each other accountable

34. 3 4
POLL
I have power over whether Rotary is an organization
that promotes diversity, equity, & inclusion.

35. Q&A
MembershipDevelopment
@Rotary.org