Thanks everyone who joined me at the October Take on Board breakfast and, in particular, to our fabulous speakers Fiona Williams and Sheena Watt for their informative, insightful and interesting stories and tips.
Summary of key points
Fiona’s tips:
- Induction to a new board is helpful – she found having a mentor to be valuable.
- Find a board that aligns with your values – it’s where you’ll be able to make the biggest contribution.
- role of Chair is as facilitator and leading an informed and well considered discussion.
- In challenges (e.g. merger) – it can be helpful for the board to remind themselves of their ‘why’ (e.g. service to the local community).
- Regional health boards are very closely connected to local community.
- Even if you don’t have a background in health, you can contribute your skills to a health board. Department of Health and Human Services also provides a lot of training opportunities to health board members (e.g. clinical governance).
And from Sheena:
- Being on a board can be a way of giving back (particularly if your job alone doesn’t sustain you enough).
- Need your crew to talk to when on a board.
- Find a board that is values aligned.
- Consider using sub-committees as a way to get on boards.
- Diversity might get you in the room but it won’t keep you in the room.
- Sheena made a conscious choice to build her clinical governance expertise as a way of maximisng her value in the boardroom.
I really loved hearing from these fabulous women, and the vibe in the room was fantastic. Is there a better way to start the day?
Some of the feedback
- Brilliant – all of it!
- Good networking and questions.
- Very good engagement and conversation.
- Wonderful women.
- Q&A session was great.
- The speakers were great, motivational.
- Nice venue.
- Helga’s style of engaging and experience.
- Women networking and sharing their experiences.
- Networking opportunity.
- Board market place was helpful.
- Networking booklet contain participant’s bios.
- Time, length of session.
- Format and structure of session, well managed.
- Meeting emerging women.
- Hearing from two great leaders – sharing great ideas.
- The group – the sunshine!
- Food, talks, timing – everything!
- The agenda – breaking for discussions around the tables between speakers.
- Mix of board members and non-board members.
Feel free to let me know any other feedback you may have!
I’d be interested to hear what you took from the presentations – email me to let me know or join the conversation on LinkedIn or Facebook. And if anyone happened to take photos I would love it if you could email them to me or post them to Facebook.
If you have any further feedback on this event, suggestions for speakers, or know anyone interested in the next Take on Board breakfast, please let me know. Again, thank you for coming and being part of the breakfast. I look forward to seeing you at the next one.
Take on Board podcast
And, of course, you can hear more from Fiona. Sheena’s podcast to be released soon on the Take on Board podcast. Or join the Take on Board Facebook group. I would really love it if you could share the podcast with someone you know this week – either someone you are on a Board with, or someone you know who is also looking for board roles.
