Breaking Barriers in the Boardroom

In this episode, Fiona Hathorn, CEO and Co-Founder of WB Directors, and Dr Malcolm McGregor, Head of Leadership Development, share practical insights on actively managing your career. They discuss key topics such as building visibility, understanding the real value of networking, creating a clear career plan, and the importance of building influence. Whether you’re looking to step into leadership or take your board career to the next level, this episode offers useful tips to help you take control.

In this episode, we speak with Sadie Daryan, a Senior Marketer and Trustee at the Single Homeless Project, who landed her first board position through our guidance and resources. Sadie discusses the significant impact of role models and mentors throughout her career. She shares insights on balancing career ambitions with the importance of giving back to the community and the role passion plays in her position as a trustee.

Laurie Benson has had a successful career as a media executive in the US and the UK. She has leveraged her experience and expertise into an extensive NED portfolio career.  She emphasises the importance of securing that first role, the value of hands-on experience in boardrooms, and the confidence to embrace opportunities even before you feel ready.

In this episode, we speak with Myfanwy Barrett, an experienced NED and Trustee, as she shares her journey to the boardroom and the wealth of experiences that shaped her career. With a background in public finance, Myfanwy holds a diverse portfolio across the pensions, housing, and cultural sectors in both public and not-for-profit organisations. She discusses the valuable lessons learned along the way, including overcoming challenges, the importance of peer support, leveraging your key skills, and being patient on your path to boardroom success. 

In this episode, we look back at some of the best advice shared by our members throughout 2024 on succeeding as a non-executive director. These seasoned individuals provide valuable insights on assessing board fit, intentional networking, strategic relationship building, and much more. Speakers: Kat Shenton – “How to build a portfolio career in ethical investments.” 11 Jan Yetunde Hoffman – “Elevating HR to the boardroom.” 5 Mar Marcia Cantor-Gable – “Building a NED career in financial services.” 3 Apr Mai Fenton & Kirsten Achtelstetter – “How to secure a board role with ‘non-traditional’ skill sets.” 9 May Monica Collings – “Breaking Barriers in the Boardroom.” 29 Jul Tracy Watkinson – “How to Balance a NED Portfolio Alongside Your Day Job.” 4 Sep Lloydette Bai-Marrow – “Embracing Strategic Decision-Making for Boardroom Success.” 10 Oct Carol Hagh – “Building Your NED Portfolio in Insurance.” 14 Nov

In this episode, we speak with Carol Hagh, an experienced portfolio NED serving on both a FTSE 250 board and a FTSE All-Share board. Carol shares insights from her extensive career and journey in the boardroom. With a wealth of experience spanning digital innovation and customer and corporate strategy across diverse global markets, Carol shares how her executive background shaped her NED journey. She discusses how to assess your 'board fit', the benefits of joining committees, collaborating effectively with headhunters, and the importance of patience in navigating the path to a successful board career.

In this episode Lloydette Bai-Marrow, an experienced non-executive director, anti-corrpution expert, and economic crime lawyer, discusses her extensive career and board journey.  She emphasises the importance of strategic decision-making in choosing roles, building relationships, and demonstrating the value you bring to a board.

In this episode, Tracy Watkinson, an experienced Non-Executive Director and a FTSE100 Chief Operating Officer, shares the invaluable tips gained from her remarkable career and board journey. Tracy has held various community board roles - undertaken in her private time - alongside her executive career. Our journey with Tracy began at one of our in-house workshops, and she has been a valued member of our network for over a decade.

In this episode, Monica Collings, a seasoned portfolio Non-Executive Director and award-winning former CEO, shares her experiences, challenges, and the strategies she adopted to break barriers and succeed in the boardroom. Monica highlights the importance of self-belief, representation of marginalised voices, and self-care in board roles to foster positive organisational change.

How do you create a truly inclusive company culture? In this episode, our CEO, Fiona Hathorn, is joined by Matt Duncan, Managing Director (Business Performance Improvement Leader) at Protiviti, and Dr Zandile Ndlovu, a Board Advisor and experienced Head of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Drawing from the themes in the third chapter of our Hidden Truth 2024 report - Strategic Approaches to People and Culture - they explore managing diverse people and cultures, enhancing leadership, gathering valuable employee insights and addressing key challenges in ED&I.