ABSTRACT
Purpose: This study examines gender-based diversity influence in key board committees and on firm financial performance, focusing on strategic decision-making and committee participation.
Design/Methodology: Using fixed-effects panel regression, the analysis covers 420 listed Indian firms over 2014-2024. Also, percentage representation along with Shannon and Blau indices was applied to determine the robustness and efficiency of the data.
Findings: The research study indicates that gender diversity in key committees significantly enhances market-based performance (Tobin's Q), while overall board-level diversity shows no impact on accounting-based performance (ROA), indicating a gap between governance improvements and operational outcomes.
Originality/Value: This study underscores the importance of meaningful engagement over token appointments and provides evidence on how gender diversity, shaped by socio-cultural and institutional contexts, drives corporate outcomes in emerging economies and contributes to the global discourse on board diversity.
