It’s Not a Foreign Concept: Serving on an International Board

After 30 years in corporate law, I wanted to do something different for the next phase in my career. My experience as a partner and then senior counsel in an international law firm gave me experience with corporate transactions and advising boards on a variety of issues, often in a cross-border setting. I realized I wanted to pivot from legal advisor to board director, where I could focus more on strategic and business issues.

My goal was to secure a board seat that leveraged my strengths, such as my ability to strategically and analytically delve into new issues. I wanted to combine my interest in board service with my passion for working internationally.

As I began my board journey, I had a conversation with a former law firm partner who had been involved with DirectWomen. When he learned I was considering retiring, he said I might be a perfect candidate for the DirectWomen Board Institute. I applied to the Board Institute and was accepted as one of their first non-US lawyer candidates.

What I found most valuable from my participation in the DirectWomen Board Institute was the practical advice the program offered for positioning myself as a board candidate. It was helpful to learn how to build a credible board candidate profile, how to present oneself in board interviews, how to craft a board-specific resume, and how to develop an effective elevator pitch.

I have a funny story about the Board Institute’s elevator pitch exercise. In the first round, my pitch was too long. I tried to stay within the time limit by speaking super-fast. Based on the silence after my initial pitch, my performance must have been dreadful. One of the faculty members said, “Hmm, what kind of record did you want to break?” I followed his advice for a more focused and less wordy message and improved in the second round.

I have also benefited from DirectWomen’s Board Institute alumnae network. The organization facilitates board searches for companies seeking qualified board directors. Board Institute alumnae are informed of the board opportunities, and interested, qualified candidates are invited to apply for the position. This is how I was appointed to the board of KBRA Europe, an Irish company.

Serving on an international board is a special experience. You may be exposed to a corporate governance system you are unfamiliar with; board meetings may be conducted in a foreign language; you may experience cultural differences in the style board members discuss and interact with each other; most board meetings will involve travel; and depending on time zone differences, video conferences may take place at inconvenient times. Additionally, the compensation and terms of your appointment may be very different from what you experience in the U.S.

There are also differences in terms of corporate governance systems. I currently serve on a German supervisory board, and an Irish board. In the German two-tier board system, the all-non-executive supervisory board oversees the all-executive management board, while an Anglo-Saxon style board is comprised of both executive and non-executive directors. Although there are technical differences in the responsibilities of a supervisory board member and a non-executive director, these roles have converged in recent years.

In any event, when joining a corporate board, it is important to understand board service responsibilities, which are often based on the jurisdiction. The onboarding program offered by the company, along with access to the company’s corporate advisers, are typically very helpful resources.

Language issues may arise when serving on a board in a non-English speaking country. While board meetings may be held in English, or will at least be translated into English, this may not be the case for side discussions, which often provide interesting insights.

Cultural differences are not limited to international boards and may also occur on domestic boards with an international directorship. It is fascinating to observe different styles of discussion and attitudes on multicultural boards. Applying some cultural sensitivity generally goes a long way in avoiding cultural clashes.

I also serve on DirectWomen’s International Boards Committee. Our mission is to increase the representation of women lawyers on corporate boards outside the U.S. We have been organizing an annual event dedicated to international board service for the past three years. The event features panel discussions around international board service and great networking opportunities. This year’s event will be held in June at the London Stock Exchange. It is an event I look forward to attending each year.

For me, serving as a director on an international board is very rewarding. I enjoy working with international director colleagues and treasure the opportunity to compare corporate governance trends and best practices across different jurisdictions. I also welcome the diverse perspectives brought to the table by directors with differing professional and international backgrounds.

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