If you, as a shareholder, are unhappy with the representation of women in leadership positions in a company in which you're an investor, here are different steps you can take to express your point of view. Even if you don't do all of these things, you can make an impact.

• If there are too few women on the board, write "Where Are the Women?" on the proxy ballot.
• Cast your vote in a way that records your displeasure: you can vote no on all nominees if all are male or vote yes only for the one or two women if you choose.
• On the proxy ballot, write your own message or the following:

  "Women make up a substantial portion of your shareholders, customers, and employees. I notice there are no (only one, only two) women serving on your board of directors. Why are there no (so few) women? Men and women expect the board to closely reflect your stakeholders. More women directors are good for governance and good for our business. We are looking for you to quickly take steps to make sure the representation of women is improved."

• If you submit your proxy electronically, write some version of the language provided above before sending it.
• Write or email any or all of the following individuals, using the same or similar language as you used on your proxy:
  • Non-management directors or lead director
  • Chair of the board
  • Chair of the governance/nominating committee
  • Corporate Secretary

  These individuals and their contact information are set forth in the company's proxy statement and often on its website as well. If you choose to do so, you can also include in your letter or email your opinion that there should be more women executive officers.

• Attend the annual shareholder meeting and ask why there are no or so few women on the board. You should also use this opportunity to state your opinion that more women directors are good for governance and good for business. If you choose to do so, you can also address the absence of women from executive officer level and most highly compensated executive groups.
• Follow the procedures set out in the proxy statement to nominate one or more women directors for next year's slate of board candidates.

Your feedback is important!

When you take any of these actions, please

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what you have done and what responses you have received. Your feedback is important to ION's educational and advocacy efforts. It will help us to become more effective in bringing about change in the composition of corporate leadership. Your participation in this effort will also help obtain greater publicity for the important role being played by women investors. Thank you for helping us to make a difference!