MAP Insights

Many managers think of the C-Suite as the ultimate goal before finally ending a corporate career. “I want to be a CIO or a CMO,” may be running in an executive’s mind before he or she finally says goodbye to the executive office and prepares for the next career – which is farming or “apostolate” for others (taking care of grandchildren).

 

But very few think of the B-Suite and very few even think they are qualified to eye a seat at the Board. Especially women. They disregard even looking at the Board seats, especially of Publicly Listed Corporations (PLCs), because we often find the same 70-80 years old in the boards of most PLCs. Not many think of serving a board, using their many years as managers to effectively run companies, whether for profit or a non-profit.

 

This is why we formed yet another group of women called NextGen Organization of Women Corporate Directors (NOWCD). We realized many career women drop out of the whole corporate scene upon retirement. These career women become invisible to those who seek their invaluable experience to be able to mentor others and consult with companies. Instead, they finally trade their office gear, pumps and all, for farming boots or a rocking chair (Oh my gosh!).

 

After having asked 25 plus women in various sectors to join the initial list, we are off to finding a pipeline of career women who can definitely help steer public and private companies as members of the elusive B suite, or Board of Directors. It is the next career for those who do not like the daily grind anymore but can definitely contribute to worthy projects, new companies, start-ups and even be chosen for a PLC looking for their specialty.

 

When do you start preparing for the B Suite? It starts today if you are a corporate executive looking at your own path after a long stint with this or that company. It is a next career for those who also want more time at home but still want to juggle their memory, practice their time-earned management skills, read management reports and contribute to nation-building.

 

What must career women and men do for this stage in their careers?

 

1. Enroll in a Professional Directors Program. I took mine back in 2006 at Institute of Corporate Directors (icd.ph) upon the suggestion of a friend who thought I could find it useful.
2. Consider joining a non-profit first if you still are not ready for the big league. I was fortunately invited to join a huge non-profit where my ideas were found to be innovative, shocking to some, but generally a different view for an NGO.
3. Read about PLCs, REITS, and the Corporation Code. We need to be abreast of the new laws, especially those that involve the sector we belong to.
4. Volunteer for small groups or corporations to hone you in parliamentary rules of conduct and how to behave at Board meetings. I have been serving in a non-profit NGO that has a member which is a Local Government Unit (LGU), a church group and NGO officers.
5. Family corporations are the best training ground. My father made me sit at our Board meetings when I was just 18, and he conducted meetings professionally. I really felt like a grown-up having sat through long meetings and looked forward to the prize – a per diem – that my same-age friends still could not understand.
6. Independent Directorships. Accept an invite to be one, even in a private company. I remember my brother asking two professionals to join our Board so we could hear independent opinions from non-family members. Soon after my ICD course, I was invited to join a private company , a stakeholder relations firm. The company had 4-6 independent directors to add to the three owner-directors. That probably spelled their continued success in their field.
7. Check your LinkedIn profile. Are people aware about your past experience and your present roles? Make sure your profile is updated. The search companies and other talent hounds always refer to LinkedIn.
8. Expand your network. Have you joined an organization or been invited to the likes of Filipina CEO Circle, MAP, MBC, FINEX? The top professionals belong to one or a few of these organizations.

 

And the best advice is to be real. There is nothing like being the best version of yourself and news travels fast. If you are known in a certain field, you become top-of-mind for many who refer others as people expand their search for talent.

 

So, if you are already in the C-Suite, do prepare for the next level and that is the Board room level. This is where you need not be hired as a professional manager but be hired for a totality of skills and years of experience, hopefully in various and diverse roles.

 

And we call upon the ladies and the younger managers, there is a post for you at the B-Suite. It could be because they need Diversity in their boards with respect to age, gender and area of interest or specialization. Diversity is the key to sustainability. Think ESG – Environment, Sustainability and Governance.

 

Start your journey for the B-suite now.

 

 

(This article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines or MAP.  The author is Member of the MAP Diversity and Inclusion Committee, President of NOWCD, Chair of the Philippine Coffee Board, Councilor of Slow Food (www.slowfood.com) for Southeast Asia and is an advocate for organic agriculture. Feedback at <map@map.org.ph> and <pujuan29@gmail.com>.