DeborahAdmin

Being a Corporate Director is much different from being an executive. A Corporate Director’s role is one of oversight, whereas an executive’s role is to manage day-to-day operations. Getting yourself board-ready is a journey where you need to be realistic in the skills, experience and value you bring to a board. It would help if you also were mindful that it is a very competitive marketplace. There is an over-supply of qualified Corporate Directors for a limited supply of available corporate board seats. As Founder & CEO of Women Get On Board and as a leading and serving Corporate Director, my social purpose is to empower more women on corporate boards with my top 10 tips to help you in your journey to a corporate board: 1. Be fearless — use your confidence to embrace change. Be independent-minded and stand up for what you believe in. Do the right thing and be ethical in your decisions. Have courage, be brave, be decisive and be determined. 2. Plan your journey, set goals and plan the path to your success. [...]

When I began my board journey, I didn’t consider the importance of diversifying my board portfolio. A board portfolio is the different boards you lead and serve. Similar to your investment portfolio, you should be strategic in developing your board portfolio. It should reflect your risk profile and the stage of your board career. Additionally, you should regularly monitor and review your board portfolio to ensure you are getting a positive return. When thinking of diversifying your board portfolio, here are three critical areas for consideration: Consider the Evolution of Your Board Journey To evaluate the evolution of your board journey, first, consider the size and stage of the boards you serve. For example, if you join the board of an emerging company, the director’s role is often a value-add role that is hands-on. As the company matures, your board expectation will evolve to more of an oversight role. To better understand your role and responsibilities as a board member refer to this guide called “Directors and Officers in Canada” a concise and informative resource. After reviewing core company [...]

It still surprises me that there has been little change in corporate Canada to add more women to TSX listed boards. “Either corporate Canada changes its culture, or it’ll have to justify to shareholders why it’s deliberately weakening its own bottom line.” Jennifer Stewart & Catherine Clark Women Get On Board was recently referenced in this article from the Ottawa Citizen, which speaks to the four ways to advance more women to boards: 1-Set targets 2-Develop a board skills matrix 3-Get help 4-Move the needle It has been six years since the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) implemented disclosure rules mandating that TSX-listed companies “comply or explain” their board diversity figures. The move was intended to lead to positive changes in how corporate boards recruit new board members. However, according to the recent Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt report, 2020 Diversity Disclosure Practices, just over 20% of directors serving on corporate boards in 2019 were women. This change represents only a slight increase in the average proportion of women on boards compared to prior years when the average percentage of female directors was [...]

I often reflect on this quote: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." I have noticed the profound and powerful truth of these words. In my 35 years as an executive, corporate director and entrepreneur, I have observed that one of the most powerful forces in the world is the power of giving. Giving motivates, delights, inspires and moves people. I have learned never to underestimate the value of giving with a generous heart. In this blog, I will discuss: Giving and taking in business Doing well by doing good Principles for giving generously and receiving graciously Giving and taking in business In Adam Grant's landmark book, Give and Take, he explores the power of giving in the context of the business landscape. Grant breaks the world down into three categories of people: Givers, Takers, and Matchers. Takers are people who prioritize wealth, power, and pleasure. They like to win, and they take what they need to succeed. Matchers operate according to the principle of fairness; they give [...]

I often hear that women need more mentorship from men and women leaders to advance their careers. While this is true, women need more than mentorship alone. Women need sponsorship, too! Mentorship vs. sponsorship What is the difference between “mentorship” and “sponsorship”? There are a few critical distinctions between the roles. Mentorship is about advising. They help by guiding behind the scenes. Sponsorship, on the other hand, is about acting. Sponsors support individuals they believe in by publicly advocating them when they are not in the room. In her Harvard Business Review article, organizational behaviour expert Herminia Ibarra succinctly describes the difference between sponsorship and mentorship. She writes, “While a mentor is someone who has the knowledge and will share it with you, a sponsor is a person who has power and will use it for you.” In her New York Times op-ed, Sylvia Ann Hewlett explains the difference between sponsors and mentors this way: “Mentors act as a sounding board or a shoulder to cry on, offering advice as needed and support and guidance as requested; they expect very [...]

Did you know the power of connection can be a one of the most effective paths to accomplishing your goals in business and beyond? Specifically, the path to success is authentic connection with people in your network. However, the very idea of networking and connection can be intimidating. The good news is that connection doesn’t just happen at awkward events. In fact, it is happening right now, everywhere—online, at work, and in your social life.  Even when we are not consciously networking, we are still connecting. Meaningful connections can happen anywhere, from a virtual conference, to a LinkedIn post, to the person next to you in your yoga class. The question is: how can you connect more intentionally to build and grow your network? And once you do, how can you use the power of those connections to meet your goals? Allow me to offer a few ideas that can help. Communicate with gravitas Set your intention Be a connector Map your network Master the art of networking 1. Communicate with gravitas Whenever you talk to someone, you are connecting. That’s why [...]