The Future of Boardrooms: Greater Diversity, Higher Impact

Here is your opportunity to add purpose to yourself and be inspired to be associated with the social sector . This experiential, three-month program enables you to give back by sharing your lending your expertise to social sector organisations by becoming "board - ready"

The Future of Boardrooms: Greater Diversity, Higher Impact
A PROGRAM BY
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Governance Counts Logo

Cohort 5 starts
in June 2024

apply now

The 5th goal of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to
achieve gender equality and
empower all women and girls

Why Women

Why Women

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Why Women

One of the specific targets for SDGs' 5th goal is to ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. While there has already been a significant growth of women at senior levels in the corporate sector, there is still a lack of women in leadership and advisory roles in Social Purpose Organisations.

Why Boards

Why Boards

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Why Boards

Given the SDGs’ focus on leadership, it makes sense to first focus on boardrooms, as they are in the position to set the direction of organisations. Being a board member or advisor to an organisation enables individuals to contribute to the social impact sector whilst leveraging their network, leadership skills and technical knowledge. Additionally, the individuals also implement these learnings in their current roles.

Why This Program

Why This Program

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Why This Program

While expanding leadership potential for non-profit organisations, the program looks to provide participants with the necessary perspectives, tools, means of engagement and networking opportunities with Social Purpose Organisations that align with their skill sets.

Program Objectives

Build a thorough understanding of the social sector

Build a thorough understanding of the social sector

Develop an understanding of self in the context of the social sector

Develop an understanding of self in the context of the social sector

Deep-dive into Board roles and responsibilities

Deep-dive into Board roles and responsibilities

Explore structures and processes that improve Board governance

Explore structures and processes that improve Board governance

Cohort placements on the advisory boards of social impact organisations

Volunteering engagement in-between modules to empower the learning journey with field based experience as board readiness is being built

Master classes (virtual)

Master classes (virtual) between modules on various aspects of Board and organisation engagement to enrich the knowledge base

Who Is It For?

Who Is It For?

Women who have:

  • A minimum of 15 years of experience in any professional sector, such as corporate, academic or entrepreneurship, among others.
  • A desire to learn about, serve and influence Social Purpose Organisation.
  • An aspiration towards serving in a Board role.
  • Served in leadership positions and/ or led organisations, built businesses/ teams, possess deep expertise in a particular field.

 

What's In It For You?

  • Exposure to the needs and challenges of the sector to help you find the areas where you can add most value
  • Advisory Board positions in the sector that align with your profile and interests
  • Mentorship and support during the first year to enable a smooth transition into the board role
  • Organisational preparedness sessions with Founders/ CEOs of Social Purpose Organisations to ensure their readiness to induct you as a new board member
  • Sector immersion through the intensive curriculum developed by Social Purpose Organisation governance expert, Aarti Madhusudan, and delivered by experienced sector leaders, practitioners and academia.
What's In It For You?

Meet The Cohorts

Founding Cohort

Wondering whether this program suits you? Check out the profiles of cohort 1

Founding Cohort 2

Wondering whether this program suits you? Check out the profiles of cohort 2

Founding Cohort 3

Wondering whether this program suits you? Check out the profiles of our cohort 3

Founding Cohort 4

Wondering whether this program suits you? Check out the profiles of our cohort 4

Learning Journey

Learning Journey

This is a blended program (a mix of virtual + in-person) that comprises three modules. At the end of the program, participants will be matched with Social Purpose Organisations that can leverage the specific skills and expertise that they bring to the table. The participants will be provided with mentorship support during their onboarding phase.

Each module offers:

student

Cross-functional curriculum focusing on perspectives, tools and means of engagement on Social Purpose Organisation boards

partner

Peer learning and experience-based exercises in the form of case studies, discussions, group work, activities and role play

partner

Interaction with sector leaders and experts

partner

Reflection and self-work

Through the modules you will explore the social impact sector and good governance in the context of Social Purpose Organisation as described below

Module

1

Understanding of the Social Sector and Self in that Context

This module provides a strong understanding of the sector, its challenges, founders' journey and strategic imperatives for the organisational leadership. Participants will also be able to reflect on their own motivations and aspirations that
will enable them to be more conscious of their alignment to specific domains within the social impact space and how their experience and expertise could be well-suited to those.

Board Roles and Effectiveness

This module will outline the role of a Board and the responsibilities associated with it both at the Board and the individual member level. It will also provide insights into the various types of Board role engagements aligned to the life stage of organisations.

Module

2

Module

3

Governance Mechanisms and Best Practices

The module will cover aspects like a rotation policy, the work of Board positions and committees, conflict/ duality of interest policies and Board development.

Program Schedule

Coming Soon..

Program Fees: INR 70,000 + GST

Placement Organisations

For the Founding Cohort

Slum Soccer
Mukkamaar
Maithree
Chintu Gudiya Foundation
Protsahan
Quest
Rangammal
Slam Out Loud
Sshrishti Trust
SVATAH
the ant
Mango Tree
Wisdom Tree
Katha
FMCH
Barefoot
ATMA

Network Of Faculty & Speakers

Ashraf Patel

Co - Founder, Pravah and Community

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Meet Ashraf Patel

Poonam Muttreja

ED, Population Foundation of India

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Poonam Muttreja

Deval Sanghavi

Co-Founder, Dasra

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Deval Sanghavi

Mihir Mathur

Founder, DESTA Research LLP

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Mihir Mathur

Amitabh Behar

CEO, OXFAM India

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Amitabh Behar

Anshu Gupta

Founder Director, Goonj

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Anshu Gupta

Nachiket Mor

Board Member, Navi

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Nachiket Mor

Vivek Pandit

Senior Partner & Global Co-leader, McKinsey’s Private Equity & Principal Investors Practice

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Vivek Pandit

Norma Alvares

Lawyer and Environmental Actist, Padmashri

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Norma Alvares

Venkat Krishnan

Trustee, India Welfare Trust

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Venkat Krishnan

Shanthi Lakshmanan

Founder Director, Exempserv, Professional Services

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Shanthi Lakshmanan

Sonal Kapoor

Founder Director, Protsahan

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Sonal Kapoor

Aarti Madhusudan

Founder of Governance Counts

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Aarti Madhusudan

Ravi Sreedharan

President & Founder, ISDM

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Ravi Sreedharan

Neera Nundy

Managing partner, Dasra

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Neera Nundy

Wellwishers And Partners

Aakash Sethi

CEO, QUEST Alliance

Aakash Sethi

Aashu Calapa

Director, Social Venture Partners

Aashu Calapa

Amita Chauhan

Chairperson, Social Venture Partners Mumbai

Amita Chauhan

Archana Grodia

Author, Entrepreneur, Business Leader, Ex- president FICCI FLO

Archana Grodia

Ashok Kamath

Chairman, Akshara Foundation

Ashok Kamath

Chetna Sinha

Founder, Mann Deshi Foundation

Chetna Sinha

Gopinath Govindan

Director - Human Resources, Apraava Energy

Gopinath Govindan

Ingrid Srinath

Director - Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP), Ashoka University

Ingrid Srinath

Kruti Bharucha

Founder and CEO, Peepul

Kruti Bharucha

Narayanan Vaghul

Philanthropist, ex-banker professional

Narayanan Vaghul

Neelima Khetan

CSR & Social Sector Adviser; Partner, Nous Consultants

Neelima Khetan

Poonam Muttreja

Executive Director, Population Foundation of India

Poonam Muttreja

Raj Dharmaraj

Head HR Strategic Deals-India & APAC, Cognizant

Raj Dharmaraj

Ramya Rajagopalan

Sr Vice President - Strategic Partnerships, Piramal Foundation

Ramya Rajagopalan

Reshma Anand

CEO, Hindustan Unilever Foundation

Reshma Anand

Shailja Mehta

Lead 10to19 Adolecsents Collaborative, Dasra

Shailja Mehta

Shivani Mehta

Executive Director, CORO INDIA

Shivani Mehta

Urvashi Butalia

Publisher, Writer and co-founder of Kali for Women

Urvashi Butalia

Venkat Krishnan

Principal Trustee, India Welfare Trust

Venkat Krishnan

Vanessa D'souza

CEO at SNEHA, (Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action)

Vanessa D'souza
 

Report

Effective Boards
Effective Organisations

Insights from Over 100 Social Purpose Organisations

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary goal of the Women on Boards program is to provide a platform that enables the transfer of learnings, thoughts and ideas, between the corporate and social impact sectors, while enabling higher diversity on nonprofit boards—diversity both in terms of women's participation and diversity of experience and expertise.

The program will aim to ensure active learning across sessions, via:

  • Case studies
  • Role play
  • Expert-led sessions
  • Exercises, activities and group work
  • Self-reflective work
  • Peer learning
  • Mentorship
  • Sector Immersion

This program is structured to include classroom engagement, one day of on-field immersion with organisations, self-reflective work and a deep dive into case studies. Hence, you would be required to dedicate 60 hours to classroom learning and 20 hours should be set aside for self-reflection.

As a participant, you will receive insights into the Indian social sector. In addition, you will find opportunities to serve on Advisory Boards of social impact organisations. The experience during and after this program will help build your institutional governance experience overall.

No. Attendance for every engagement is mandatory in order to complete the program and receive certification.

No, as a board member you won’t be entitled to any salary or honorarium.

Currently, we aren’t providing any financial assistance. You can reach out to your CSR department and discuss the funding possibilities with them. We are willing to facilitate that discussion and provide any necessary support.

It would depend on the organisation’s needs and the expectations set in the beginning. However, it would be a considerable amount of time for the organisation to benefit from your expertise.

  1. Participants who complete all modules and sessions will be given preference in recommendations to the organisations for advisory positions.
  2. The participants who miss on sessions will need to complete the same through listening in to recordings, allotting time for discussions with faculty/peers to be considered for advisory positions.
  3. Participants who miss an entire module will not be considered for placements unless they join the modules in following cohorts. An additional fee of Rs 20000 will be charged.
  4. Volunteering between modules will count significantly towards preference for placements.

Get in Touch

Program Partners

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Contact Us

Please reach out to us on WhatsApp at 8287523698 Or write to us at womenonboards@isdm.org.in

Admission open for PGP-DM