• Boards Today --what you need to know about serving on boards in today's environment:
  • Risks/rewards
  • Sarbanes-Oxley requirements
  • Trends
  • Types of boards: corporate, advisory, vs. non-profit
• Duties and Responsibilities— what is expected of directors?
  • Key Committees
  • Role vs. management
  • Best practices
  • Key issues for directors
• Diversity in the Boardroom— how to leverage this need for diversity
  • Impact of diversity on boards and company profits
• How to Secure a Board Seat— tips and lessons learned
  • The new role of search firms and how search firms operate
  • “Out of the box” ideas for getting on boards
  • Case study for search
• “Selling” Yourself for Success —you have only one chance to make a great first impression
• Getting on the Radar Screen —getting into the right networks, getting the referrals
• How to Create Bios and Resumes for Board Searches— how to put your best image forward on paper/email
• How to “Ace” the Board Interview – tips on how to prepare for, manage and optimize your performance on any interview
• Your Personal Road Map and Action Plan— customized to meet your personal interests and background
• Personalized feedback and on-going consultation —participants will receive personalized feedback and receive on-going alerts on board openings, help with bios/interviews for future opportunities, etc.

DAY 1: ONBOARD SEMINAR PROGRAM for September 18th, 2007

9:00-9:30 AM Registration, Continental Breakfast and Networking

9:30-10:15 AM
I.  Welcome and Board Seminar Overview of the Risks & Rewards
Speakers: Carolyn Chin, Chairman & CEO, Cebiz & Susan Stautberg, President of PartnerCom

• Latest Board trends
• Rewards
• Risks
• What are the requirements to be “financially literate”
• The board road map:
• Types, in general

• Advisory Boards
• Privately held small/medium/start-up
• Pre-public
• Public - Large Corporate

• Requirements of Directors at different stages of the corporation's life cycle (start-up/new/rapid growth/maturing/distressed)

• Who currently sits on boards
• The unintended consequences of Sarbanes/Oxley
• What type of due diligence should you do before accepting a directorship
• Once on the board, what is expected from directors

10:15-12:00 PM
II. Duties and Responsibilities. What is Expected from a Director/ Multiplicity of Roles
Speakers: Carolyn Chin & Susan Stautberg

• Education on the rules that govern the relationships
• How to differentiate between duties of management and those of the board
• How can directors get all the information they need to understand a company's core issues
• Best practices
• Role of Key Committees
• Key Issues for Directors

12:15-1:30 PM (Informal Networking Lunch and Speaker)
III. The Latest Trends in the Executive Search
Luncheon Speaker: TBA, Top speaker from Heidrick & Struggles

1:45-4:15 PM
IV. How to Secure a Board Seat: Road Map for Implementation
Speakers: Carolyn Chin & Susan Stautberg

• The advantages of Advisory Boards and how to get on them
• How to differentiate yourself
• Publications you should be reading or at least skimming
• How to develop a realistic marketing plan for yourself. Use a checklist.
• Self assessment: honestly reviewing your qualifications for the board
• Identify the strengths you can bring to a corporate board
• How to develop the right resume and bio
• Getting your name on the short list
• How to network and get into the search networks
• Which non-profits to join
• How to ask for help in obtaining a seat at the table and always reciprocate
• How to interview for a board position
• Before accepting a board seat, 2 questions to ask
• Once on a board, the 10 questions you should ask to fulfill your role as a Corporate Director.
• Boardroom Resources/ Bibliography
• How entrepreneurs can showcase their talents

4:15-4:30 PM
Closing Comments/Wrap Up

For Those Attending Day 2:

Optional Networking Dinner on September 18th, 2007: Meet corporate board directors and board recruiters at this reception and dinner in a New York midtown location.  Perfect opportunity for visibility, networking and advice.

The Differences Between Being a Corporate Director & Running a Large or Growing Company
Guest Speaker: Janet Clarke, President, Littlefield, LLC, Director of Gateway, Forbes Media, Princeton, and Asbury Automotive.

DAY 2: ONBOARD PERSONALIZED COACHING WORKSHOP on September 19th, 2007

9:30-10:30 AM 
A Live Case Study of the Selection Process of Directors for Holcim, Traps to Avoid, Questions and Answers.
Speaker: George Weathersby, Corporate Director & CEO, Genesys

10:30-11:00 AM
I. “ Selling” Yourself for Success

• How to make sure you leverage your strengths and make the best first impressions the basics
• The power of the “mass-customized” resume and bio
• Case studies: see how resumes can be clarified or improved to address the needs of board recruiters and enhance your probability of making the short list and getting selected
• What's hot and what's not for skills and experiences that boards are seeking
• Self-assessment survey to help develop your best bios and resumes, which will be personally assessed by a mentor

11:00-11:15 AM Break

11:15-12:30 AM
II. Getting on the Radar Screen

• Research: how to find out what's available and suitable
• Networking: organizations, events, volunteer opportunities
• Search firms: how to get on their data bases, get referrals
• Case Studies on how individuals from various backgrounds get on boards
• Self-survey on potential lead generators (to be personally assessed by a mentor)

12:30-2:00 PM (luncheon & speaker)
III. Latest Corporate Director Research by Korn/Ferry
Luncheon Speaker (invited):  Kim Bishop, Senior Client Partner, Korn/Ferry International

2:00-3:30 PM
IV. How to “Ace” the Board Interview

• You have only one chance to make a great first impression
• How to prepare for the interview
• What to wear and other hints
• Primer on key questions and answers so you are prepared!
• Role-playing sessions to test and hone your skills

3:30-3:45 Break

3:45-4:30PM
V. Your Personal Road Map and Wrap-up

• How to develop your personal road map and next steps for you. We will provide lists and worksheets.
• Each participant will be asked to develop a bio, resume and personal road map that can be sent in and reviewed by a mentor and the professors for a scheduled personal follow-up session by phone or in person with advice, referrals, etc.

Day 2 participants will also receive a one-on-one follow-up consultation and advice.