BOARDS

Have the Courage To Play To Win
You’ve heard the cliché ‘you can’t win if you don’t play.’
It’s a fitting description of working to diversify your board.
When we look at our own networks, it is human nature that
they are often a reflection of us. However, this is not enough
going forward. You need the courage and bravery it takes
to build new networks, meeting and vetting new faces.
Change management is never easy but certainly necessary.
If you liken spotting diverse, qualified candidates to finding
unicorns in the field, you must understand that’s a bad
metaphor. This database of professionals exists. I’ve seen
them, met them, and helped companies small and large
connect with the ones who are a great fit for their needs.
Most importantly, when you find them, you’ll discover how
these capable, available candidates can make your board
stronger and more sustainable.
Using the same, tired old candidate selection process
is no longer an option. Tweaking that by layering in a
diversity factor isn’t either. Nor can you solely rely on
referrals alone. If you don’t aggressively seek out
candidates, you may trade off diversity for excellence.
And I’ll tell you now that continued success requires
an ‘AND,’ not an ‘OR,’ of those traits.
Now’s the time to make your move and future-proof your
board with skilled, engaged, diverse members. If you don’t,
you’ll regret it sooner than you might think.
KAREN FENAROLI leverages over 25 years of
CEO tenure, executive search consulting, and
leadership experience to help high-growth
businesses identify and evaluate critical executive
and board member placements. As the
most recognized expert and aggregator of diverse board
talent in the country, Karen is sought after by the boardroom,
the Fortune 1000 and private firms alike for direction
and vision when implementing progressive methodologies
that make it possible to achieve excellence and enhance
the bottom line. Karen is the founder and CEO of Fenaroli
& Associates. Karen can be reached at 913-232-6160 or
kfenaroli@fenaroliassociates.com.
Upcoming Webcast!
Diversity on Boards –
Women and Beyond
October 26, 2016
Everywhere you look, from securities regulators
to governance gurus, ‘women on boards’ is a hot
topic. It seems that everyone has an opinion, but
there are a few facts that should be tabled first.
Why should boards of directors consider including
women as part of its diversity strategy? What is the
linkage from gender, to true diversity, to boardroom
culture?
Facilitated by David A.H. Brown, author of the
landmark research Women on Boards: Not Just the
Right Thing, but the ‘Bright’ Thing, this webcast will
integrate regulators’ guidelines, academic research
and actual board practice and experiences on this
subject.
Join this webcast to learn:
• What the research has to say about women on
boards, broader diversity and boardroom culture
• Why is diversity important, what does it add in
value or benefits?
• What distinctives of health boards affect the question
of women and diversity on boards?
• How women on boards is a proxy for diversity,
and its importance in its own right
• Steps that you can take to enhance and optimize
diversity on a health sector board
For more information and to register visit
www.thegce.ca/education
BOARDS: OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GOVERNANCE CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 16 4