Alyceum

Igniting Leaders, Inspiring Revolutions

Archives for December 2017

Our annual review 2017

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A  s we reflect on the year we’ve had at Alyceum, we wanted to share what impact has been achieved.

Highlights in 2017

Westpac 200 Businesses of Tomorrow List

 It was wonderful to kick off the year with Alyceum being named in the Westpac 200 Businesses of Tomorrow List out of 2000 applicants. I went to Sydney to attend the official announcement and one-day Summit (complete with my 4-month-old son and my mum!).  The Westpac staff were so accommodating which made attending an absolute pleasure.  The inspiration from speakers such as Marc Randolph, Co-founder, Netflix, Bernard Salt and David Linberg, Westpac Chief Executive, Business Banking has stayed with me and positively impacted my year.

Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care and Community Boards program turns five! 

The Engaging Young Leaders on Aged Care and Community Boards program celebrated 5 years and we introduced the new Difference Makers Diversity Awards.  We had a very successful Emerging Leaders in Governance program and two outstanding Unconventions.  It’s been an amazing journey to lead and facilitate this incredible program in Perth.  Thank you to Southcare and the strong collective of Not-For-Profit organisations that I get to work with on this program.
The book, Difference Makers, I co-wrote with Dr Nicky Howe continues to make an impact.  Here we are with the WA Premier, Hon. Mark McGowan at the launch of the Women Onboard Portal to encourage more gender diversity on government boards.  I’m offering an End of Year special for any board would like a board book pack (10 copies – 1 for each board director at a reduced rate).
 
 

Shining the light on young board directors

In 2017 Alyceum launched the #1000youngdirectors campaign to shine the spotlight on young board directors of Not-For-Profit organisations from around Australia.  It was wonderful to profile such dedicated and engaged young professionals who are making a difference to their community.  Nominate yourself to be profiled here.
 
 

Launching the Board Ignition online course

We also launched the online Board Ignition course to empower young professionals to gain their first community board appointment in June this year.  8 modules, 11 board director interviews and one live round of the course with 4 online webinars!  Last month in November we trialled a very unique live round of the Board Ignition course where I held weekly webinars with online participants.  All participants of the course get access to the webinar recordings making it an excellent online course to complete.
 

Sharing ideas and building skills

I got to work with some amazing clients again including BHP, RAC, CPA Australia, WA Football Commission, Australian Health Promotion Association, facilitating workshops this year on leadership, facilitation skills, board leadership and diversity.   I love the people I get to meet at these presentations and workshops.  Here are all the female directors currently sitting on Football boards below.  Their drive, leadership and determination is exceptional. 

 

Giving back our top priority

I continued my involvement and commitment to 100 Women as Board Chair.  Our collective giving circle raised nearly $100,000 this year and funded four projects in WA, Australia and overseas.  You can read my wrap up of our Gala Celebration here.  It was a very special night featuring one of our grant recipients, Girls From Oz.  I was also excited to meet the girls who are from Halls Creek and provide a complimentary leadership workshop while they were here in Perth.
 

Speaking at TEDx Perth

An absolute highlight of the year was the opportunity to speak in front of 1500 people at the Perth Concert Hall for TEDxPerth on the power of collective giving.  I don’t think you could get a better audience – warm, engaged and open.    I wrote about the experience here.
 

Media Features

I was fortunate to be featured in the following online publications and campaigns:
#CelebratingWomen – a project to see more celebration, less denigration of women online
It’s been a successful year and with some exciting plans in the works for next year – bring on 2018!
  

9 helpful posts for aspiring directors

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L   et’s face it, knowledge is power!  Here are my top 9 blog posts from this year for aspiring Not-For-Profit board directors!

Of course, if you’re really serious about getting your first board appointment then you would definitely complete my online Board Ignition course. Not only does it share about the NFP sector and board governance, it also shows you how to develop your value proposition for a board and where to go and what to do to find your first board appointment! 

Let’s recap some of my most popular blog posts supporting aspiring board directors.

 

The following posts explore the intentions, motivations, practical steps and opportunities to be an outstanding board director.

Blog Post 1.  Why Join a NFP Board? Four Main Motivators?

It’s a great place to begin when you’re thinking of becoming a board director.   This post explores four of the most common motivators for joining a community board.  What motivates you!?

Blog Post 2. Find the right board role for you

One of the most important decisions is choosing the right board for you.  So how do you know where to start in finding the right one for you?  This blog post gives you some great tips to focus your thinking.

Blog Post 3.  Have you thought about Local Council?

Read about the importance of age diversity on Local Council.  Yes Local Council is an awesome opportunity to get involved in community at a grassroots level, listen to community members and make decisions in the best interests of all people.

Blog Post 4. Increasing Women on Football Club Boards

Community organisations come in all shapes and sizes. Read about the opportunity on football club boards as another opportunity to get involved.   If you love your footy, this is a great one for you!

Blog Post 5. How much time does a NFP Board position take?

Do you know exactly what you’re getting into when you accept a board position? Do you think it’s just about attending the board meeting? Think again.   Read more here about the whole time commitment involved.

Blog Post 6.  10 questions to ask before joining a NFP board

Due diligence time!  You’ve been offered a board role – what next?  Before you rush into that first board opportunity, step back and ask these questions first.  You want to make sure it’s the right fit for you and the right fit for the board too!

Blog Post 7. Read my hot tip to find a board appointment here.

So how do you mix with board directors so you can hear of the next position available?  It’s one thing to know about the NFP sector and board governance, it’s another thing to actually find a board position.  In the Board Ignition course, we explore the strategies to get onto boards but you can read one of my hot tips here.

Blog Post 8.  Start increasing your emotional intelligence to you are board ready!

Board directors need to display high level of emotional intelligence in the board room.  In fact, this can be one of the most crucial factors in a high performing board!  Here are 25 questions to improve your EQ before you get there.

Blog Post 9. 5 ways to start learning more about the NFP sector

The NFP sector is very different to the corporate sector. It has it’s own ecosystem of peak bodies, events and media publications.  Start learning more about the Not-For-Profit sector and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.