School News

Gender-balanced boards are proven to result in greater business success. The Executive Education of the Faculty of Business and Economics has launched the eight-session Women’s Directorship Programme to answer the call from the worldwide business community tackling the existing gender diversity imbalance in boardrooms. The first session of the Women’s Directorship Programme has taken place from 23 to 25 May 2019.  We welcomed a cohort of inspirational women across the globe, representing a range of industries and functional expertise, and prepared them to be ready for responsibilities in the boardrooms.

Mr. David Lee, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Business and Economics, who led the first two modules of the programme, has set the pace for the participants. In the programme, the first module has covered Roles and Responsibilities of Board Members, with topics such as the wisdom of the crowd, diversity of thoughts, corporate governance, transformational learning and purpose, and etc. The second module covered Strategic Leadership at the board, and discussed the topics of covering, reframing and decision making.  While the third module was led by Ms. Lindsey Coen-Fernandez, Adjunct Assistant Professor, focused on Persuasive Communication and Conflict Management. A board simulation was brought into class to allow participants practice their skills.

With the strong support from many senior business leaders, the programme has also invited many guest speakers to share their experience with participants, and to bring knowledge into life. This session was joined by Jean Pascal Tricoire, CEO and Chairman of Schneider Electric, Chia Ko, Director of Grace Financial, and Johan Bygge, Senior Advisor to EQT Asia and Rick Haythornthwaite, and Chairman of Mastercard and Centrica.

The second session of the Women’s Directorship Programme 2019 is going to resume in September. For more information please visit: www.wdpinternational.com.