Newswise — WASHINGTON (Feb. 27, 2014) — The George Washington University School of Business (GWSB) and the International Women’s Forum (IWF) recently welcomed the second class of fellows for On the Board, a comprehensive training and placement program for the world’s top female executives.

On the Board is a joint initiative of GWSB and IWF designed to prepare women leaders to become successful candidates for, and directors on, corporate boards. The program features faculty from GWSB and other elite U.S. and international universities, as well as leading practitioners and sitting corporate directors.

The class of 2014 On the Board fellows was officially introduced at this year’s program launch event, held earlier today. George Washington President Steven Knapp attended to show his support for the program and congratulate the fellows. The new class of fellows includes:

• Linda Boland Abraham, co-founder and executive vice president of global development, comScore, Inc.• Victoria Barnard, president, Foot Traffic USA• Anne Donovan Bodnar, chief administrative officer, Towers Watson• Dana H. Born, brigadier general (retired), U.S. Air Force• Anne Chwat, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc.• Jane DeFlorio, managing director (retired), Deutsche Bank• Mildred Garcia, president, California State University, Fullerton• Kerry Jordan, CFA, director of business development, Iron Road Capital Partners, RMB Capital Management• LeeAnne B. Linderman, executive vice president, Zions Bank Retail• Deborah A. McCarthy, ambassador to Lithuania, U.S. Department of State• Whitney Mortimer, partner and chief marketing officer, IDEO• Fiona Ross, CEO, National Library & National Cultural Institution (Ireland)• Kathleen Starkoff, Independent Consultant• Dawn Sweeney, president, The National Restaurant Association• Mary Valenta, founder, On the Green, LLC “These 15 exceptional executives were selected from a pool of applicants that include some of the world’s most accomplished women,” said Linda Rabbitt, founder and CEO of rand* construction corporation, GW Trustee and member of the IWF. “The fellows were selected on the basis of their impressive achievements and potential to serve as effective board directors.”

On the Board fellows receive advanced training in board-level leadership knowledge and practice, including corporate strategy, crisis management, ethical and responsible decision-making, corporate finance, risk assessment, leadership communications and regulatory compliance.

“For the last 10 years, growth in the percentage of women on corporate boards has stalled,” said Susan Kulp, GW associate professor of accountancy and academic director of On the Board. “Today, women hold roughly 16 percent of the Fortune 500 board seats, an increase of just 3 percent over the last decade. Taking those numbers into account, it immediately becomes clear why society needs programs like On the Board.”

This year’s On the Board program sessions will be held in Washington, D.C., on the GW campus on the following dates: session one: Thursday – March 2, session two: July 18 – 20 and session three: Nov. 14-16. During these sessions, On the Board fellows will participate in training, development and coaching sessions, as well as social and networking events.

“The International Women’s Forum brings significant and unmatched voices and experience to the program through the power of our network,” said Micheline Bouchard, IWF global director and former president and CEO of Motorola Canada. “Through our extensive global network and access to the governance community, IWF will drive the placement campaign for fellows completing the program.”

About On the Board On the Board is an elite fellowship program designed to prepare and place women leaders on corporate boards. Made possible through a generous gift from Linda Rabbitt, founder and CEO of rand* construction corporation, George Washington University trustee and International Women’s Forum member, On the Board promises to reshape the business landscape by building a pipeline of women prepared to serve on the boards of leading international companies. Read more about the program: business.gwu.edu/ontheboard

About the International Women’s ForumThe International Women’s Forum advances leadership across careers, cultures and continents by connecting the world’s most preeminent women of significant and diverse achievement. The IWF brings together an unprecedented global membership to exchange ideas, to learn and inspire, and to promote better leadership for a changing world. Founded in 1982 in the United States, the International Women’s Forum has grown across five continents into 26 nations. There are more than 5,000 women leaders participating in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America. IWF provides one-of–a-kind programming designed by world leaders, for world leaders, both present and future. IWF provides a platform for leaders to meet among their peers in an environment where meaningful partnerships and friendships can grow and form. Visit: http://www.iwforum.org

About the George Washington University School of BusinessGW’s School of Business is an international leader in education and research, which prides itself on training future leaders to be global problem solvers and socially responsible managers. The school leverages its prime location—in the heart of Washington—by attracting visiting scholars and leaders in the business community to work, teach and engage with students on campus. The depth and variety of its academic and professional programs, including five specialized master’s programs, provide rich opportunities for academic engagement and career development for students in the school’s core bachelor of business administration, master of business administration and doctoral programs. Visit: http://business.gwu.edu/

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