Do female directors influence firm value? The mediating role of green innovation

Purpose Building on the upper echelons and natural resource-based view (NRBV) theory, this study aims to examine the role of green innovation in mediating the relationship between female directors and firm value. Design/methodology/approach This study uses panel data for 2016–2020 of 108 manufacturing firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange with 518 observations. This study collects data from the firm’s annual and sustainability reports and the Osiris database. This study uses feasible generalized least squares in controlling heteroscedasticity and correlation to validate the relationship. Findings The results show that green innovation mediates the relationship between female directors and firm value. The results support the upper echelons theory, which views that the impact of the female directors’ policy has a positive effect on green innovation. The results also support the NRBV theory, which views green innovation as an environmentally friendly resource capable of increasing firm value. Originality/value In examining the indirect effect of female directors on firm value, this study is one of the early works that discuss the mediation relationship using green innovation in the relationship of female directors to firm value drawn from upper echelons and NRBV theory.