Diversity Quotas Aren’t Popular, but California Shows They Work

Maggie Wilderotter was never a fan of diversity quotas. Wilderotter, who has served on more than 30 boards in her career, has argued quotas can give companies an incentive to hire women who are unqualified or unprepared for the job. But after seeing the effects of a controversial California law mandating a woman on every public company’s board, she has come to realize that the technique can make a difference.

“I do believe the quotas that have been put in place have become a catalyst,” said Wilderotter, who’s currently on five boards including Costco Wholesale Corp. and Lyft Inc. “I sit on a number of technology companies, both private and public, and there has been a renewed focus on making sure that all of the slates for new directors include women and that the companies have been thoughtful about the women they’re putting on the board.”