Female leadership on boards and corporate response to sustainability initiatives: An exploratory case in agri-food cooperatives

Abstract

Currently, there is great interest in the participation of women in decision-making, as different studies show that the presence of women in management influences the improvement of the company’s sustainability. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the characteristics of female leadership in agri-food cooperatives through a reference case study in Spain. The aim has been to analyse the process of women’s access to the board of directors, the characteristics of their leadership and the influence that their leadership has on business sustainability, measured through its three ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) components. The results indicate that women join the board after demonstrating their professional skills to the members. Their leadership can be defined as transformational and is supported by the cooperative culture. It also shows that there is a positive relationship between women in leadership positions and the improvement of sustainability in agri-food cooperatives.