That might explain the situation if board/C-suite presence was due to performance, merit, or other individual characteristic rather than a couple of centuries w

That might explain the situation if board/C-suite presence was due to performance, merit, or other individual characteristic rather than a couple of centuries worth of old boys' clubs. How do you get on a board? By being known to people on the board. They know who you are, what your history is, how you think.