Fidelio’s “A Seat at the Table” Programme for Senior Female Executives and Directors has established itself as a foremost contributor to ensuring talented women succeed to the top table and at the top table. Building on the success and track record to date, Fidelio will hold the next “A Seat at the Table” Programme on 6th – 7th September 2017 at Leeds Castle, Kent, UK. We are also delighted to announce the fifth iteration of “A Seat at the Table” to be held on 13th – 14th March 2018, once again at Leeds Castle, Kent.
Track Record to the Top Table
Originally established in response to the clarion call from the UK Davies Report to ensure that more women succeed to the top table, Fidelio’s “A Seat at the Table” Programme continues to fulfil its original purpose and retains a strong public company focus. Above and beyond this, the Programme also enables talented women to be firmly in the driving seat of their own Boardroom careers.
The programme was a terrific boost to my confidence and gave me the reassurance to take on the kinds of roles I aspired to …
CEO, Major Subsidiary, Global Bank
I continue to refer to the ‘A Seat at the Table’ material when preparing to take up new Board positions – it serves as a practical and powerful framework
Senior Independent Director, FTSE 250
To date “A Seat at the Table” has attracted female Directors and Senior Executives from the US, the UK, continental Europe and Africa. Leading global corporates have been represented across a range of sectors and geographies. This fast-learning and immersive Programme is designed to enable talented women to assume direction and purpose in their Boardroom career, including balancing a major Executive role with external Board seats. Over 35% of past participants have strengthened their Board portfolio and/or moved to more senior Executive roles within 12 months of attending.
Five Attributes of Board Leadership
In September 2017, and looking forward to 2018, Fidelio’s “A Seat at the Table” Programme will once again focus on putting senior women firmly in the driving seat of their own Board careers. The two-day, immersive Programme held around the Boardroom table is predicated upon five attributes of leadership which are critical to charting a successful Boardroom career:
1) Understanding shareholder and stakeholder expectations for the Board / leadership team. Susan Sternglass Noble, former global Portfolio Manager; Senior Advisor, The Investor Forum, will explore what institutional shareholders expect from Boards in terms of effectiveness and engagement. Participants will review with Dr Harry Brunjes, Chairman, English National Opera and Premier Medical Group stakeholder expectations for a major arts body in the public eye, as well as the entrepreneurial privately held Board.
2) A firm grasp of governance, including formal and informal power structures. Drawing upon his much heralded new work “Stop the Rot”, we are delighted to welcome back leading governance expert Professor Bob Garratt, Visiting Professor, Cass Business School. Bob will challenge participants to find their “true North” as a Director, exploring how Boards achieve corporate purpose linked to long-term values. Ann Francke, Chief Executive, Chartered Management Institute, will highlight the Board’s accountability for culture and diversity, including closing the gender pay gap. “A Seat at the Table” acknowledges the centrality of the Board’s role in securing the licence to operate.
3) Presence and authority; personal impact; the ability to influence. Effectiveness at the top table benefits from the ability to hold the space and command authority. As such Chris Heimann, Head of Improvisation, RADA; Founder & Director, Spacecraft, will challenge participants to maximise their personal, and authentic, presence and authority, and to develop the ability to influence and be heard around the Boardroom table. Chris will be joined by Rod Chamberlain, experienced Financial Services Non-Executive Director and non-profit Chairman, who will also demonstrate the power of the profile.
4) Reinforcing networks: networks of support and networks of reciprocity. Networks are critical in developing a rewarding and effective Board career. Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford, Chair, ActionAid; Board Member, Co-op; former Director of Legal Services and Company Secretary, John Lewis will explore networks that are intrinsic to establishing a Board portfolio that balances professional experience and personal interests. Anne de Kerchove, CEO, IronGroup; leading digital investor and CEO, also brings to life digital presence and fast moving digital networks.
5) Resilience under extreme pressure. Today’s Board Members are under great scrutiny. Participants will test resilience under extreme pressure with David Pearl, former Deputy Company Secretary, BP, working through case studies of Boards and crises. Hilary Lindsay, former President, ICAEW, links resilience to life long learning.
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To find out more about joining the “A Seat at the Table” Programme in September 2017 or March 2018, including registration details, please contact Emily Baker.
Notes to Editors:
The Programme – “A Seat at the Table“ is a unique two day programme around the Board table providing insight into complexity and Board effectiveness, as well as the route to the Boardroom. The goal is to increase female representation at the top table and develop tomorrow’s female CEOs and Chairs. Participants are Senior Female Executives and Directors with extensive leadership experience along with the ambition and potential to become highly effective Board Directors. To date we have welcomed women from leading FTSE 100 and international companies – including from the US, continental Europe and Africa.
Participants in “A Seat at the Table” leave with practical tools to help them succeed, including:
- a framework for understanding leadership structures and styles;
- a mirror for personal presence including within a group dynamic; and
- a road map of critical networks and milestones, in order to achieve their professional and personal objectives.
“A Seat at the Table“ – the feedback:
- “very rich in content, a great blend of technical aspects, softer skills and confidence building … An excellent Board readiness programme” – CEO, Major Subsidiary, Global Financial Services Company
- “practically narrowed the gap between my current position and the Board […] demystifying being on the Board” – Head of Leadership and Learning, Multinational Industrial Company
- “the best concentrated injection of development and learning that I have ever had … It hits the mark perfectly” – FTSE 100 Group HR Executive
We are currently completing registrations for “A Seat at the Table“, Wednesday 6th – Thursday 7th September 2017. The March 2018 programme will be held 13th – 14th March 2018 and has just opened for bookings. The delegate enrolment fee is £7,500 plus VAT for this two day residential programme at Leeds Castle, Kent, UK.
About Fidelio
As a Board Development and Executive Search consultancy, Fidelio has a clear focus on building Boards and leadership teams fit for the future. We do this through Search, Development and Evaluation, underpinned by a deep understanding of what shareholders and stakeholders expect from the leadership team. Diversity is hardwired into every aspect of Fidelio’s offering. Based in London we work internationally; 50% of our Search, Development and Evaluation work is outside the UK.
For further information on how we can support your company through Search, Development or Evaluation, or of Fidelio’s “A Seat at the Table“ programme for senior female executives and directors please contact Emily Baker, or alternatively call + 44 (0) 20 7759 2200.