This is the first installment of the Board Member Speaks series where I interview board members and individuals who have a lot of board experience. In this episode, my guest is Kerri Best.
Kerri is a member of two boards: a provincial nonprofit dedicated to promoting women in trades in technology, where she serves as the chair of the board, and a provincial nonprofit oil and gas board, where she serves as a director. We talk about the difference between management and governance, the three key lessons she learned about governance, her suggestions for individuals who want to sit on a board and have never sat on a governance board, and a lot more.
A couple of excerpts from the interview:
What are three key lessons that you learned about board governance during your experience?
- It takes all parts of an organizations to actually attain governance. The staff, the management and the board have to be in-sync.
- Not all boards use the same implementation on governance. Some boards will still be in transition, while some boards will be fully using the governance process and policies.
- It takes time. It’s an iterative process, so you don’t just get to take those policies, put them on a shelf and say you have governance. It’s really an iterative engagement.
When you were new on the board, what are three things that really would have helped you become familiar with board governance?
- A clear understanding of what governance actually is. We all have a natural understanding what management is, and sometimes they become conflicted. A clear understanding of governance would definitely help you start.
- Organizational specific training. That has been very, very rewarding, fulfilling, and time-saving. It really helps you work on the commitments and mission of your board, your organization.
- Clear governance processes and policies in place.
Watch the short video below:
Board Roles: Important Information Known Only To The Best
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