Overview
A 3-DAY PROGRAM
ON STRATEGIC AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
TAILORED TO FAMILY ENTERPRISES
A Forward-Looking Board is a Powerful Tool for Owners to Steer their Family Enterprise in the Next Economy.
Industries today face an accelerating rate of disruptive change, globalization, and competition.
More than ever, family businesses need value-creating Boards that partner with family owners and senior executives to set proper ambitious goals, adapt business models, and rethink resource allocation. A partnering Board guides owners with scaling their business(es) through organic growth or acquisitions, divestitures, liquidity events, new investments, setting up a family office, or other important activities.
In addition, a strategic Board at the highest level of the enterprise helps owners set direction for the family’s entire portfolio of businesses, investments, and entities. It helps define how the family can make its most important contributions to the enterprise. It helps ensure that the family enterprise makes the bold decisions needed to endure through the next generation.
A well-constructed Board is invaluable to growing family wealth and shaping the future of a multigenerational family enterprise.
“I found the Worldclass Boards Program truly inspiring, and loved every minute of it. It answered all of the questions that I had about good family business governance.”
– 5th generation Chairwoman of a global family business
Program Overview
The Building a Worldclass Board Program accelerates the planning and revitalization of a family enterprise’s corporate governance system—whether for an operating company, portfolio of companies, holding company, or family office.
The program explores the following themes related to how owners can maximize the value of their board(s):
- Governance Architecture: What are the different types of boards, and what are the right boards for your family enterprise?
- Role of the Board: What are the duties of a board at different stages in a family enterprise’s evolution?
- Board Design and Functionality: How is a board structured, composed, managed, and led?
- Board Performance: How is a board’s effectiveness evaluated and strengthened?
- Individual Impact: How do individuals more effectively contribute to the board, or prepare to serve on or lead the board?
The program strengthens the performance of directors, and expedites the preparation of future board members and board Chairs.
Topics Discussed
TYPES OF BOARDS
- What a board provides to the owners, and what the owners need from the board to navigate the challenges of the next economy
- Different types of boards and different roles for boards in this disruptive environment
- How to architect the right board(s) for your family enterprise: operating companies, investment companies, impact investing entities, family office, and holding company
CONNECTION TO THE FAMILY
- How the board reconnects with, and advances, the family enterprise’s vision for the future
- Training the next generation to be solid board members
- Symbiotic relationship and coordination between the Board and family governance
DUTIES OF BOARDS
- Main duties of a good board
- Board’s responsibilities to gain economies of scope and reinforce the innovation agenda
- Board’s role in integrating corporate strategy and talent strategy
COMPOSITION OF BOARDS
- How to compose an effective board, and the different composition needs of different boards
- Independent directors: recruiting, compensation, and getting the most value from them
- Family directors: preparation, development, and getting the most value from them
BOARD LEADERSHIP AND PROCESS
- Evolving role of the Board Chair or Executive Chair in a disruptive environment, including lessons from a Chairman’s first-hand experience
- Effective board agendas, and what good board meetings accomplish
- Evaluation of the board
INDIVIDUAL ACTION PLANS
- Over the course of the program, each team develops an action plan for their family enterprise’s board(s)
- Each individual develops an action plan for his/her own professional development as a board member
- Action plans are designed with tailored guidance from the faculty to address each board’s goals and challenges