numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If so, I was curious to know more about > your rationale and motivation for joining the > board, “Power and the money, money and the power Minute after minute, hour after hour.”
I really wonder how much the soft skills and networking of the Aristocracy are complemented by finance knowledge and mathematical ability?
Thanks for the link, pacmandefense. Interesting bios. On another note, I just found this link that lists some considerations that one should think about when joining the board of a non-profit organization. Seems like an OK article to me. http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/993/boards.html Anyone else have thoughts or interesting reading material on this subject?
Numi my father serves on the school board back in my hometown. He feels honorable using his CPA/MBA knowledge for the benefit of the school community. I would imagine you would have a similar experience at this organization.
But in this case, it’s using that experience as an item on the application to get an MBA. Different sequence and different motivation.
numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks for the link, pacmandefense. Interesting > bios. > > On another note, I just found this link that lists > some considerations that one should think about > when joining the board of a non-profit > organization. Seems like an OK article to me. > > http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/993/boards.html > > Anyone else have thoughts or interesting reading > material on this subject? thought about it. make senses for me to work with ppl of different backgrounds when i apply to Tuck (group focused), as they stick ppl in groups in which the members are from different backgrounds. so in essence, its like training for Tuck.
These bios are amazing. I’m inspired.
Well, people with those types of bios, the MBA types, who manage to get to the top through soft skills and networking spout out crap like: > “We were seeing things that were 25-standard > deviation moves, several days in a row.” > - David Viniar, Goldman Sachs CFO.
sublimity Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But in this case, it’s using that experience as an > item on the application to get an MBA. Different > sequence and different motivation. Agreed. Especially being a non-profit board.
interesting bios. makes me wanna go back to sch just to hang out with such well-rounded and diverse folks… choices choices choices… wonder what the median age is tho?
One thing I should be clear about is that I’ve always been a proponent of the music and the arts; it’s not as though I would ever sign up for a board whose mission I didn’t believe in. Now, getting back to the original topic – can any of you who serve on a non-profit board, or who know friends that are board members, speak broadly about their experience and how it has benefited them intellectually, professionally, or socially? I know the question as posed does not sound entirely altruistic, but I do believe that most normal people have to spend time developing themselves first in order to have the knowledge and resources to give to others. As such, my curiosity for non-profit boards has as much to do with the short-term (i.e. my being happy for the near future and getting into business school) as it does with the long-term (when I’ve established myself professionally and I can dedicate the majority of my life to more charitable causes). Any insights would be appreciated.
fxguy1234 just starting working on a nonprofit board http://www.analystforum.com/phorums/read.php?1,850815,850882#msg-850882
Numi, How do you get these positions? Is it plain networking? Are they looking for particular qualifications?
projectplatnyc – thanks for linking that thread. I hope fxguy1234 sees this post and can offer his opinion on my situation, too. aval – I have gotten wind of non-profit board opportunities through alumni. This present opportunity actually came from boardnetusa.com. I filled out a profile pretty thoroughly and it appears there was a good match between myself and the organization based on my work experience (finance) and my interests (music and fine arts). My guess is that the board has been looking for someone to help handle the business matters of their organization but who can also identify with the mission and goals of the group. I’ll keep you guys posted as I get more details, but from what I could tell, it seemed to be a good fit from both a personality and experience perspective.
numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > projectplatnyc – thanks for linking that thread. > I hope fxguy1234 sees this post and can offer his > opinion on my situation, too. > numi - It sounds like this position is aligned with your interests. I took a Non-Profit Board Training class through United Way and the first thing they tell you is to make sure that you are passionate about the mission of the Non-Profit. Would you willingly drop everything to help this organization out in a time of emergency? I have been on the Board of Directors for just a month now and it has been very interesting so far. To answer your first question, my rationale for joining my board was to get more involved with my community, to gain leadership experience outside of work, be peers with people significantly above my pay grade (learning and networking opportunity), and to gain some different financial experience akin to running a small company. I am also looking to apply to business school in the near future and I’m sure this couldn’t hurt my chances. You definitley want to make sure that the board is a fit for you as well. Just talk with the current members about their working/management style and what the expectations are to make sure that will mesh with your own style. The amount of time commitments may very but for me its around 8 hours a month plus extra time when we have our bigger fundraising events. Also keep in mind that most all non-profits will not only expect personal financial contributions from its board members but also help in fundraising in general. Hope this helps and let me know if you have more specific questions. I’m happy to scan and send you my package of material I have from the United Way. -fxguy1234
fxguy1234, thanks very much for the insights. I appreciate the advice and would like to keep in touch as I get more involved in non-profit related activities. Can you drop me a note at porcupines AT gmail DOT com? I’d love to keep in touch and would also be curious to see what the United Way documents are like. Likewise I’ll keep you posted on how things go on my end.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122574256847794173.html Q. I am in efforts to join a board of directors and have contacted companies describing my talents and experience, so far without success. Can you provide any specific tips on positioning oneself as an attractive board candidate and how to best inform boards of your availability? A. Landing a board seat requires a unique process that is quite different from applying for a job. Perhaps the most important is to realize “that being appointed to a board is like joining a country club. They ask you; you don’t ask them,” says Theodore Dysart, managing director of the Americas for the global board of directors practice at Heidrick & Struggles International Inc., an executive-search firm. To that end, it is no surprise that you haven’t heard from those companies you contacted about your talents and experience. But before you even begin the process, you need to ask yourself why you want to be on a board and what skills and expertise can you bring, says Rita Foley, head of the board advisory practice at Crenshaw Associates, an executive-coaching firm, and a director on the boards of two publicly traded companies, PetSmart Inc. and Dresser-Rand Group Inc. [Careers Q&A] Getty Images The job of a boardroom director has become more challenging in recent years due to increased government regulations. “Directors need to realize that there are huge liability issues with lots of work and responsibility involved,” says Eileen Fusco, who heads the audit committee on the board of directors for MF Global Ltd., a large, global brokerage firm. In her first year on the job, Ms. Fusco estimates it took her up to 300 hours to get up to speed. If you’re still interested and think you have the necessary skills and expertise, there are several steps you can take to raise your profile and be considered a viable candidate for a board position. One way is to self-promote and be “the best in class and at the top of your game whatever you do,” says Mr. Dysart. Many talented senior executives fail to get noticed by boards because “they put their heads down, do their work and don’t build much of an external network,” says Mr. Dysart. You also may be able to increase your visibility by joining a nonprofit’s board of directors, which is often easier to achieve than a corporate board seat. Many nonprofit boards are populated with senior executives from public companies and working alongside them “gives them an opportunity to see you in action,” says Mr. Dysart. Another strategy is to network with current and past boardroom directors, says Alison Winter, co-founder of Women Corporate Directors, an international community of women corporate directors, and a member of Nordstrom Inc.'s board of directors. “It’s necessary to build your network of individuals who might recommend you to a board on which they sit,” she says. You may be able to meet these individuals at events hosted by professional groups such as the National Association of Corporate Directors, Women Corporate Directors and the Institute of Corporate Directors. But it’s not enough to just show up. Offer to serve on a discussion panel or speak on a topic in your area of expertise, says Mr. Dysart. Also make a point to “ask good questions or make thought-provoking comments,” says Ms. Fusco, adding that she’s been approached by people in reaction to questions she’s raised. Finally, consider paying for classes on how to land a corporate board seat. OnBoard Bootcamp, for example, offers resume critiquing and interviewing tips specifically for director wannabes. And once you’re ready, you can post your resume on sites like BoardRecruiting.com, where small-cap companies that can’t afford an expensive search firm look for potential board candidates.
Really what it comes down to is how much money and awareness you can raise for your organization. You will have to be a fundraising machine.
I don’t know how they decided to chose me for Non Profit Theatre company: ARTISTIC NEW DIRECTIONS INC, NYC I had filled my profile very carefully and never had I mentioned anything ‘music’ in it. Oh well, I will have to wait for better opportunities to knock.
dinesh.sundrani, it must have been fate