The Boardroom School: practical governance for effective directors

The Boardroom School, my signature course for directors, new, aspiring and established, is about excellence and influence at the board table. 

The most effective directors have an armoury of practical knowledge and skills, an awareness of director behaviour, of board and governance processes and know how to make decisions.  

This powerful program about the whys and hows of good governance, over 8 x 90 minute sessions commencing on 8 February 2022, in a board-sized small group, will canvass many topics and themes to bolster and improve your personal armoury and confidence in what you know.

It is absolutely for you if you are

❖ established - and are looking for new, fresh ways to look at old problems, not all of which are hiding in plain sight, and to think differently about standard practices

❖ on your way with some experience - and want new knowledge to feel more comfortable more quickly, as well as increasing your confidence with that knowledge

❖ aspiring - and want to be equipped with pertinent questions to ask at any interview and to know the lay of the land, and expectations of you, for your first directorships

❖ seeking new capabilities, competencies and knowledge whether a chair, company secretary, or a senior exec (wanting to see the other side of the board table) 

❖ or looking for a change of direction or career

Are you someone who wants to know and learn how to be that effective director?

Let me tell you a little more…

Being a director is a position of responsibility; you’re one of a team making important decisions and facing risks big and small, sometimes confronted by a different language, and often challenged by new ideas, concepts and assumptions.

But you can’t read about all you need to know in books or on the internet. Nothing beats practical experience and learning in real life.

That’s why I developed The Boardroom School.

To fast track your practical knowledge of what it takes to be an effective director.

You’ll be a more valuable and confident contributor to the work of your board because good governance is essential for every organisation.

What was the idea behind The Boardroom School?

I learned most of what I know from looking, listening and observing in my early board days before the notion of governance training was even thought of. When courses and programs emerged, they told me little that I hadn’t learned on my own but none of them ever included the practical tips, tools and techniques that actually make boards function and seamlessly whirr.

The answer, you see, was simple: to create a learning framework about what is useful and practical while simultaneously demystifying the read-in-books foundations that underpin these new insights and knowledge.

Plus we all learn from each other as the program is premised on conversation and storytelling - and lots of it.

See below for the program outline.

THIS IS WHAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE 8 SESSION PROGRAM SAY

► I found the sessions of great value and learnt and reinforced so much from Margot (wow she really has so much of this covered and leads the sessions with great engagement and support) I also got much from the assembled participants with so much experience & background. Leanne 2021 (experienced director)

► The Boardroom School and the way you present was excellent. I have learned so much and will refer back to my notes often in the coming years. Jay 2021 (on first board)

► Thank you Margot. I really did enjoy the course and it gave me a lot of good information with which to go forward. I now I can pull a lot of things together from the course materials. Jane 2021 (on first board)

► ….. thank you for helping me with my confidence re questions & timing in board meetings. I learn when I’m listening, but your teaching & advice has helped me identify the best times to add to discussions. Sommer 2021

► TBRS offers an engaging and interactive learning experience, that delivers highly relevant content, real life case studies and practical tools to help you navigate the complexities of working with, for and on boards to achieve good governance. TBRS is underpinned by Margot's expertise and extensive board experience. Highly recommended for aspiring and experienced Company Secretaries, General Managers, CEOs and Board members alike. Shantel 2021

► I completed the Boardroom School program in 2021 and found it extremely beneficial to my current role within sport and also to support my desire to volunteer my time on a State Sporting Association board. The readings and support material made the content relatable and easy to understand. Another benefit was the network that I have created out of completing the program!! Megan 2021 (not on a board)

► Thank you so much for your 8 week Boardroom School Series. I had limited Board experience when I started this course, and I found it informative, thought provoking and entertaining. Alice 2021

► Complex situations were presented and discussed in a very easy to understand manner, which assisted the group to have a deeper understanding of the issues Board members can face. Peter 2021

► I particularly loved the interaction and knowledge sharing between others doing the series, and our group still keeps in regular touch sharing ideas and related info. Graham 2021

► Completing the Boardroom School was an important factor in being recently elected to the Board of XYZ.

► I highly recommend the Boardroom School to anyone contemplating becoming a Board Member or looking to expand their Boardroom knowledge and networks. Tracey 2021 (not on a board)

► At the time of booking I didn’t appreciate how much knowledge I would gain from Boardroom School and how relevant it would prove to be. I must have had a premonition! Kristine 2021

► The Boardroom School was a valuable experience that I would recommend to new and seasoned directors alike. Margot is to be commended for putting together a program that enables discussion and learning on the "reality" of board roles, for example the nuanced situations that might arise, or the ambiguous aspects of certain situations. It was refreshingly unusual to find a course like this was available and I found the discussions and group rapport to be educational, informative, and engaging. Due to the deliberately small size of the group there was a high degree of participation from all members and the ability to discuss aspects of interest at greater depth. I have a greater degree of confidence and empowerment in approaching my next board role with the knowledge of the types of issues that are persistent for even the most experienced Directors, and the types of strategies that have been proven to be effective. Highly recommend! Nitya 2020

► I honestly can’t thank you enough for the opportunity to attend your Boardroom School this year. The learnings continue to be valuable daily in my various roles. Brooke 2020 (some experience)

► I love the course! Thank you so much for offering it and for making me feel so welcome. Being a young member of the group these sorts of courses can be quite intimidating, but you have made it some much fun and informative! I highly recommend this course to anyone! Ash 2020

► I am enjoying the course. This type of education should be mandatory for people wanting to be involved in a board at any level. Tarik 2020 (a little experience)

► I am really enjoying the course and look forward to Tuesday afternoon when I get to catch up with the group to discuss a new topic relating to board governance. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in becoming a board member as it will give them a good overall grounding in the roles and responsibilities of a board member and what good governance looks like. Steven 2020 (some experience) 

THE PROGRAM

Tuesdays at 5.30pm AEDT for 90 mins.

February 8 15 | March 1 8 15 22 29 | April 5

Session 1: 25 question quiz: (on some not so obvious boardroom topics) and to get to know each other over virtual welcome drinks - up to 2 hours

Session 2: The Board and its People: who's on the board and why, numbers, skills, the role of the chairman

Session 3: Director duties & responsibilities: what the law says and what you need to know to make the right decisions

Session 4: Conflicts of interest: what they are, who's responsible and how to manage them

Session 5: Meetings: having your say, papers, agenda, motions, groupthink, who attends

Session 6: CEO & Board: who's the boss of who; the role of each, delegations and who does what

Session 7: Structure, constitutions & compliance: operating frameworks, role of board documents, what compliance requires

Session 8: Risk, ESG & dispute resolution: essentials of each for managing increasing risk, and a drawing of threads to close.