Feminine expertise on board and environmental innovation: the role of critical mass

Abstract This paper examines whether women’s attitudes toward environmental innovation are impacted by their individual differences in skills, expertise, experience, and technical knowledge, as well visibility legitimacy on boards. Using the categorization of directors developed Hillman et al (J Manag Stud 37(2):235–256, 2000) a dataset including largest non-financial Spanish-listed entities reported IBEX-35 between 2015 2019, we can confirm influence female business expert support specialist innovation. We find that although seem to positively even below critical mass, only significant positive drivers eco-initiation when they gain power authority board. study confirms need examine connection women eco-innovation based not expertise experience but also position In this regard, our results provide evidence specialists have large enough representation boards be effective developing green initiatives. Our robust alternative measures (i.e., performance) overcome endogeneity concerns.