Young directors launch event with IoD
As part of my life-long learner journey, I want to continue to grow my knowledge and practice as a director. Lucky for me, I am a member of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Young Directors Committee. A team of us from all different backgrounds, interests, and skills have come together to showcase what young directors are made of, and why we should be included in the boardroom.
On Thursday 23 March 2023, we launched our first event in our series to celebrate our passionate ‘under 40’ cohort. It was a pleasure to watch my colleagues, Franky Wang, Amy Cavanaugh, and Jonathan Chambers take the stage alongside Hilary Poole to discuss their journeys and lessons in governance.
The Institute of Directors -Young Directors Steering Group
Jonathan Chambers, Franky Wang, Hilary Poole, and Amy Cavanaugh
Stealing this from Becky Hare’s (Auckland IoD branch manager) LinkedIn post on her ten key takeaways:
Understand what is expected of you;
Do your due diligence, including the quality of the chair and board members;
Be clear on the organisation’s purpose and your alignment with its values;
Don’t risk taking the first role that comes along if it’s not a good fit;
Know your priorities, how to say no, and not yet;
Don’t confuse leadership with governance;
Connecting with people is important. Build your networks;
Develop your strengths and point of difference;
It’s all about getting the interview - chemistry and fit come from there;
Ask insightful questions that demonstrate your approach.
But one aspect of the conversation that truly stood out to me was when Amy discussed how to balance life and work - stating there really is no balance.
“You have to know that one day you will drop one of the balls you are juggling. Just make sure it’s not the glass one”.
I admire Amy as she on the surface looks like the woman who has it all - The husband, the kids, and the career. But her vulnerability to show that she has dropped the glass ball a few times was authentic and real. Life is messy, but it’s the awareness to make your mistakes right and to make sure your values are always at the center of what you do that is so important.
It wouldn’t have been a young director launch night unless we ended up going out to a fancy restaurant and ordering just enough pizzas and a few bottles of wine to end the night. Looking forward to continuing on my governance journey with them!