WIT BOARD READINESS™ PROGRAM

“I’m a believer that you should start finding a board seat while you’re still relevant in the business community you serve.”

~ Patti Dismukes, WIT Board President

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A program designed to provide women with the skills required to be on a board.

Gender diversity in the boardroom is linked to better performance but the majority of boards are still dominated by men
Though we are seeing these statistics improving in 2019, we still have a gender diversity gap and need to continue the WIT Mission of empowering girls all the way from the classroom to the boardroom
A critical need for inclusive leadership in the US exists and investor pressure has increased the focus on diversity in the c-suite and on boards
Forward-thinking boards are determining ways to gain more diversity of background, experience and thought in the boardroom. Do we have a pipeline ready for this?

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“Boards need digital, data and security experts now more than ever.”

~ Patti Dismukes

The WIT Board Readiness™ Program aims to continue to support the successes being achieved by women in STEAM and further address the gender gaps that exists on Boards by building a caliber of candidates available for Board selection.

The program is designed for women who desire to apply their personal and professional skills to becoming a successful Board Director for a Board, Start Up, VC Funded, Non-Profit Boards, etc.
The program will offer a range of benefits including valuable hands-on practical workshops, knowledge about being on a board, personal guidance on how to market yourself, expert advice on positioning your executive profile and how to network
The WIT Board Readiness program will be offered in a small group capped at 20 participants per offering
The application process will be competitive and based on an assessment of the applicant’s skills and experience along with their suitability to take on a Board role in the near future
Companies can sponsor their top performers to attend the program

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START YOUR JOURNEY ONTO A BOARD TODAY

Applications Closed

Details

Solution:

The WIT Board Readiness™ program is a short-term certification course designed for female leaders in STEAM, offered in a small group format capped at 20 participants that are interested in being on a corporate, VC funded, start up or non-profit board. The application process is competitive and is based on an assessment of the applicant’s skills and experience along with their suitability to take on Board roles in the future. WIT reserves the right to reduce the participant cap in the event that candidates of sufficient quality cannot be placed. The WIT Board’s decision on candidate selection will be final. Every candidate that is declined acceptance into the program is given the opportunity to reapply at a later class offering.

Criteria for the program:

Looking to join a board in the next 1-5 years
5+ years’ experience in leadership of a business or a component of a business relevant to your industry background
Core Competencies:
- Team-Oriented
- Interpersonal Skills: Communication, Relational, Influence, and Reputation
- Personal Leadership Skills
- Technical Skills: Information Technology, Marketing, Information Security, Coding & Programming, Big Data, Agile, Product Management, etc. (Minimum of 1 required)
- Personal Attributes: Integrity, Commitment and Capacity
Direct P/L responsibility
Demonstrates readiness to complete the program (based on assessment of application and CV)
Commitment to Women in Technology and its objectives

Selection Committee Process:

The selection process is very competitive. Each year approximately 20 women are selected to participate in the WIT Board Readiness™ Program. A selection committee, made up of experts in the board selection process will review and evaluate each application. As part of your application to this program, you will be required to provide a letter of recommendation from a senior leader and will be asked to go through an interview process with the selection committee. While there is no special formula for what the selection committee looks for, successful applicants will have extensive industry expertise as well as experiences and traits that are desirable for a wide variety of boards.

Program Objectives:

Build your readiness for a board position
Explore how different types of corporate boards function
Examine the best practices of high-functioning boards
Gain insight into the roles of board members and committees
Pursue a board position
Understand the politics and pitfalls of corporate networks
Raise your profile among executive search firms and nominating committees
Match your skills and talents to the board’s specific needs
Expand your personal and professional network

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Program Timeline

Every module is covered in a 2-hour meeting

Applications Open: February 7, 2022
Applications Close: June 3, 2022
WIT Board Readiness^TM Program acceptance letters received: June 24, 2022
Payment is due from program participants: July 11, 2022

Curriculum: All Modules will be taught virtually

Module 1: The role of the board defined- July 13, 2022- Led by Laura Miller
- Curriculum Review
- How do boards work
- The role of the director and the board
- How do board searches work
- Being on a Board. Special Guest Speaker: Marianne Johnson, Chief Product Officer Cox Automotive
Module 2: Learn the language of the board- July 27, 2022- Led by Marianne Johnson
- Learn the language of the board
- Understand corporate governance & committees
- Best practices of high-functioning boards
Module 3: Know your brand and be real – August 24, 2022- Led by Marva Bailer
- Build your value proposition
- Know how to pitch your value proposition
- Build out your compelling executive profile
Module 4: Complete executive profile – September 14, 2022 – Led by Marva Bailer
Module 5: How to find the right board for you – October 5, 2022- Led by Patti Dismukes and DeWayne Griffin
- How to navigate the board interview
- Examine emerging challenges and trends in technology, innovation, risk and controls
Updated CV’s and BIO’s are due- October 5, 2022
Module 6: Mock Board Interviews – October 2022 through November 2022-Led by Maryfran Johnson, CEO and Founder of Maryfran Johnson Media and Author, “Boardroom Bound” series @ CIO.com
Graduation Reception: Dinner and special speaker – October 12, 2022
- Special Guest Speaker: TBD

Program Costs:

$3,000 Individual Fee (must be a WIT Member)
Fees will be due once selected for the program and before the first day of class
Become a WIT Member for FREE

Interested in being a corporate sponsor or sponsor your women talent in this program?

Program Costs:

$3,000 Individual Fee (must be a WIT Member)
Become a WIT Member for FREE

Corporate Sponsorship:

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Women now hold a historic 22.6% of the Board Seats

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2020: Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index for companies in the R3000 Index

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Board Turnover

Since 2012 we have observed that boards have been adding seats to accommodate women rather than waiting for male directors to step down. This year, 469 companies added 523 board seats to accommodate women. Overall, women gained 902 seats.

While men had a net loss of 470 board seats, men are still chosen to join boards more frequently than women. In 2019, 42% of the board seats went to women and 36% of the board seats went to women in the first half of 2020.

2020: Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index for companies in the R3000 Index