Research shows that companies with diverse boards are more likely to outperform their peers, leading to better business outcomes, smarter decision-making, and enhanced innovation.
The European Union's Women on Boards Directive mandates that by June 2026, publicly listed companies must have 40% female non-executive directors, or 33% overall female representation. The EBRD Women on Boards Program in Romania is part of the effort to meet these goals while also promoting better governance standards for the local SME community.
In Romania, women hold 27.2% of board seats, slightly above the current European Union average, highlighting the need for continued efforts to achieve gender parity.
Participation in the Women on Boards Program is free of charge, but prior registration is required, by 9 September. It consists of an online training, Managing Dynamics in the Boardroom, on 10 September, followed by a hybrid event, Advisory Boards, in Bucharest on 6 November. Interested participants can register by visiting https://rom3.ebrdevents.com/.
“We are very proud to launch our second edition of the Women of Boards Program in Romania. Achieving gender parity in the boardroom will result in improved performance of the relevant companies, increased innovation and will ultimately lead to increased company value and returns to the shareholders. Romania has a very strong and vibrant women in business community and we are very happy to support this ecosystem with the relevant knowledge-sharing opportunities,” said Victoria Zinchuk, Director and Head of Romania at the EBRD.
Mihnea Crăciun, Managing Director at Endeavor Romania, added: “High impact entrepreneurship is always underpinned by a solid corporate governance foundation, and we are happy to spotlight Endeavor's worldwide experience in addressing such a challenging leadership topic. By creating a supportive ecosystem for women to advance into board roles, we are not only addressing the current gaps in representation, but we also nurture a future where diverse and inclusive leadership becomes the norm in all companies.”
The Women on Boards Program in Romania is funded by the EBRD's Small Business Impact Fund (Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, US, TaiwanBusiness – EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund) and is supported by Banca Transilvania, Deloitte Romania, PWN Romania, and Envisia. The EBRD is an international financial institution that supports projects in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Its mission is to promote sustainable and inclusive growth by investing in projects that contribute to economic development. Endeavor Romania is part of Endeavor Global, a mission driven global and leading organization that supports and accelerates high-impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with talent, capital and a worldwide peer and mentor network. The EBRD and Endeavor have a solid track record of jointly supporting the business ecosystem in Romania and beyond.
