Making Yourself Board Ready

The Association of Women in Finance (AWF) had the pleasure of hosting Denise Baker, Executive Director of Vantage Point, and Christie Stephenson, Executive Director of the Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the UBC Sauder School of Business, at our latest Fireside Chat series moderated by Teresa (Terri) Dickson, Director AWF and VP, Dickson Wealth Management. The event was held at the offices of PwC with our guests treated to drinks, appetizers and a great evening of networking and dialogue.

Denise and Christie spoke about tips and techniques for getting board ready and the important questions to ask when considering a board position. We gained insight into our speakers’ personal experiences with boards, as well as practical details about training, where to look for opportunities and how to know which board is right for you.

With many different “types” of boards, our speakers encouraged committing to a cause that aligns with your skills, passions and/or interests. When it comes to finding the right opportunity, it’s all about letting your network know and research*. There are various training programs available in-person and online, and these can be helpful whether you are looking for your first board seat, or wanting to sharpen your skills for a current appointment. With great audience engagement and candid speakers, the takeaway message of the night was that the time to act is now: we need to put our hand up, lean forward, share our skills and contribute.

Thank you for the continuing support from our attendees, our venue sponsor PwC, sponsor Fidelity Investments and our guest speakers for another successful evening in the AWF Fireside Chat series!

*Visit AWF’s Women on Boards initiative website for board-related resources and postings to help with your preparation and search.