Changing societal expectations have created new demands on organizations with influential stakeholders now calling for more transparency and risk oversight. In short, it’s not business “as usual” anymore. It’s a tall task for board directors and committees in both the public and private sectors – to steward their organizations while simultaneously enhancing corporate performance.
“The stakes have never been higher for board directors,” says Christie Stephenson, Executive Director of the Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics at the UBC Sauder School of Business and lead facilitator of UBC Sauder’s two-day program, Driving Board Value in Changing Times. “Over the last decade, there has been a continual increase in the expectations and scope of their roles. […] The course is designed for experienced directors with strong governance backgrounds who are looking to grapple with emerging governance challenges on a range of topics, including social and environmental issues.”
According to Stephenson, there’s no better time for board directors to bolster their expertise. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the urgency of tackling social issues, including equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as labour rights. She also notes that the course will cover a board’s role in acknowledging Indigenous rights and advancing reconciliation.
“The business community has come to recognize the crucial role that boards play as leaders of organizations. Board directors are the ultimate stewards and responsible leadership has become a requirement for businesses to succeed.”
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Through Strategy 16: Public Relevance, UBC is working to ensure that academic programs at the university correlate to priority concerns in British Columbia and internationally.