Next Gen Board Leaders was created in response to the digital complexities and shifting demographics impacting today’s companies. This new community is designed to highlight the value that a younger generation of board members can bring to emerging areas of board oversight including e-commerce, digital marketing, and cybersecurity.
Created by Boardroom Resources in partnership with Spencer Stuart and Diligent, Next Gen Board Leaders will not only connect ‘next-gen’ directors with one another, but will spark discussion around the challenges, opportunities, and contributions of younger directors in today’s boardrooms.
Why the Focus?
Board composition has been identified as a top priority by major investors, who are demanding better alignment between board of director skill sets and new areas of board oversight. Today’s companies are tasked with building omnichannel retail experiences, attracting new generations of talent, and protecting sensitive customer data—all things that today’s corporate directors must oversee in the scope of longterm value creation.
In addition, next-gen board members face many opportunities and obstacles on the path to corporate directorship. Too many boards lack effective onboarding practices; yet, young directors are often expected to immediately adapt, acquire the appropriate skills, and navigate a 20+ year age gap with their fellow directors. Next Gen Board Leaders creates a forum for current directors to share their experiences, and it promotes the natural diversification of skill sets that occurs when boards are regularly revisiting strategy and composition alignment.
Building a Community for Current & Aspiring Directors
At the core of this community is the Advisory Council comprised of ten directors in their 30s and 40s, all currently serving on public company boards. This diverse group of directors meets a few times a year under Chatham House rules to learn from one another’s experiences and tackle governance challenges through a generational lens. Advisory Council members will also contribute to Next Gen thought leadership content throughout the year.
Driving Today’s Discussions for Tomorrow’s Boardrooms
Next Gen Board Leaders will spark ongoing discussions around the challenges, opportunities, and contributions of younger directors in today’s boardrooms. Inspired by the Mini-Summit discussions, the Next Gen community will tackle timely governance topics with a generational lens. All content will be hosted on the Next Gen Board Leaders website and shared to the community of subscribers via an email newsletter.
How Do I Join or Follow the Conversation?
When you subscribe to Next Gen Board Leaders, you’ll have the option to join as a current director, an aspiring director, or an engaged subscriber. Those who sign up for emails will receive a few emails a month sharing interactive snippets of our thought leadership content (e.g., Q&A interviews, discussion questions, short episodes with Advisory Council members). Directors, investors, and governance professionals of all ages are encouraged to subscribe, as the efforts of Next Gen Board Leaders are intended to engage all aspects of corporate governance.
Boardroom Resources, Spencer Stuart, and the Next Gen Advisory Council are thrilled to launch this initiative, as we believe these generational discussions are critical for effective corporate governance in the years ahead. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.