HOW TO GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT WEBINAR SERIES ( 11)

1. HOW TO GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT • WEBINAR SERIES (11)

3. EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE BOARD APPOINTMENT PROCESS

4. I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION THAT WILL REVOLUNTIONISE THE WAY YOU GO ABOUT LOOKING FOR AND GAIN A BOARD APPOINTMENT. Information few know about and almost no one uses

5. HOW YOU CAN SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM YOUR COMPETITORS This is a highly competitive space – you must know and be able to articulate why you should be appointed over your competitors.

6. DAVID SCHWARZ - The CEO & Founder of Board Direction (AU) & Board Appointments (UK) An (ex) international headhunter 15yrs experience putting people on boards Author: The definitive guide to finding and gaining a board appointment’ Quoted in the media as the ‘leading board recruitment and CV expert’. A NfP Non Executive Director. I help put people on boards.

7. Today How to write your board CV – separating yourself from your competitors

8. Specifically.. • Quick Recap • How a board CV is different to an executive CV. • Why a board CV works. • The key elements of a stand out board CV.

9. Quick recap

10. What a Chair wants from a successful candidate 5 core & 3 desirable criteria

11. Five critical elements Regardless of the scope or scale of an organisation in an ideal candidate they are probably looking for: • Past governance/board experience • An executive skillset • Relevant networks/connections • Demonstrable passion • Cultural fit

12. Three Desirable elements • Industry Expertise – differing from that of the executive team/CEO • Governance Qualifications – AICD or GIA • Diversity – broader than just gender

13. Writing your board CV The difference; the purpose; formatting; the content how to separate your cv from your competitors

14. Before you begin Understand the responsibilities of a non Executive director

15. Your responsibilities • ‘Non-executive directors are responsible for keeping the executive directors and the entire board accountable. Directors can do this by helping with - and managing - a company's strategy, performance and risk from an objectivestandpoint unrelated to the intimacy of day-to-day operations.’ IOD

16. The purpose To get past the gatekeepers and into an interview

17. A Board CV different to an Executive CV Style, content and purpose

18. Remember, if you are using a NED CV it is likely that You have got yourself into a highly competitive environment… it is therefore essential you properly articulate what you offer over your competitors. A board CV does this – your executive CV does not.

19. An Executive CV • Is tailored to an executive role - it will use the language, aspirations and referees required to do that. • Focuses on the executive duties required in the role rather than the more strategic elements required at board level. • Will highlight your ability to achieve success as an individual rather than as an individual part of a board.

20. A Board CV • Addresses the five things a Chair wants in a successful candidate. • Focusses on your board level successes • Demonstrates your ability to: • Drive strategy • Manage Performance • Mitigate against risk • Focuses on your corporate successes – easier said than done!

21. Three ways to evidence your success • 1. Why were you appointed to the board? Have you fulfilled the reason for your appointment • 2. If you were to ask for a pay rise what evidence would you give for warranting one • 3. Peg your success and committee work to the success of the organisation

22. Are they worth the investment? Timeor Money?

23. Time or Money – both would be well spent. With pleasure I am informing you that as a result, I believe, of using your advice and the Board CV style … I have now received an appointment as a Non Executive director to an organisation with a bright future and potential for significant growth …Why do I know the Board CV was a catalyst? Because I asked what attracted their attention to me, to which they responded “the style, format and clearly articulated content of the CV”(Rodney Turner)

24. Style, Formatting & Font The Basics

25. Style, Formatting & Font • Style: Reflective of your personality. • Font:11pt font as a minimum. Helvetica only. • Length: 2 or not 2 pages? • Contact Details: Clear and up-to-date: • Phone - with area codes • Email - hyperlinked • Address - the city at least • LinkedIn: in/davidschwarz1 • Photo: Your choice

26. The Content Remember, You have got yourself into a highly competitive environment.

27. 1. Finish with your profile • Addressing the core criteria a chair wants to see in a successful candidate • We will come back to this.

28. 2. Board & Executive Success • Summarise your board and / or executive successes • By nature it will duplicate some existing he content. However, these are the elements of your career that want to highlight. • As with the entire CV this section should focus on quantifiable / demonstrable success.

29. 3. Non Executive & Committee Experience • Lists you most recent board or committee experience first. Do not limit your examples with just formal board roles include committee roles too. • Again, be specific about your successes • Do not to make statements that you can not support – for example, stating that you were a board member does not demonstrate that you were a good board member!

30. 4. Executive Board Experience • List your executive board roles. i.e. any board or committee roles you have held as part of your executive career. • Also include the roles you have held that operated at board level. • Success is not required here

31. 5. Executive Experience • Again in descending order, list your executive roles. • Be as specific as possible when listing your successes and include statistics or numerical evidence. • Do not just state that you were a senior executive or what you did as this does not demonstrate that you were good senior executive!

32. 6. Education & Professional Development • This section lists, again in descending order, your formal qualifications and education. • It might include relevant tertiary and governance courses. • Also include relevant professional development education.

33. 7. Memberships, Extra-Professional Activities & Interests This section lists your: • professional memberships, • special interest groups, • Awards, Publications etc • Volunteering • languages spoken and • relevant activities that might positively impact on a board appointment.

34. 7. Referees • An important section – often overlooked. • This section lists your referee’s details as they can influence a board when making an appointment. • Ideally your referees would be at board level. • It is important notto include contact details for your referees.

35. What next Your board profile

36. Finish with your Profile Address the five reasons you are likely to be appointed and make it specific to them – remember they only know what you tell them

37. Your Board Profile I am a (NED, Committee & Executive titles) with over (number of years) board level experience across the (sectors) with particular experience in (industries). At board level highlights includes (particular appointments or actions you are proud of). In an executive capacity I am (your highest profile or most applicable role). Here I (particular successes/clients or actions). Previously I was (your previous roles). Finally, I have (educational qualifications) and am/have (awards, extra-professional activities).

38. Don’t over think it The process of writing your CV can be as valuable as the end product. You can spend too much time on your CV – it will never be perfect .

39. The Key To Your Success Clarity, Focus & Perseverance

40. A pretty simple equation: The harder you work the luckier you get Perseverance is key

41. How are you spending your time?

42. Statistically, being proactive and developing connections or directly approaching target organisations is most likely to gain you an appointment. However, when applying for roles your CV must ‘dare them not to interview you’.

43. Questions & Comments David Schwarz E: contact@boarddirection.com.au W: www.boarddirection.com.au

45. Contact Details • QUESTIONS & COMMENTS David Schwarz E: contact@boarddirection.com.au W: www.boarddirection.com.au

46. Don’t forget to register for next weeks’ webinar Writing a board Cover letter – perhaps the most important part of any application – if you get it right!