I would like to invite you all to seek an opportunity to serve . Mentor , coach , serve on a board , whether it is your former primary school board , a not-for-profit organization or a corporate firm . Terri Koslowksi put it beautifully . Serving others allows you to create ripples in the water of life that helps heal the world . It is powerful to serve others . Not just for the receiver , but also for you .
REFLECTIONS
The Gift Of Giving
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Happiness does not result from what we get , but from what we give ’ Ben Carson . As I read this quote , I reflected on it for a long time . And my conclusion was , I agree with Ben Carson . As we navigate through our careers , it is important to remember that someone showed their belief in us , and held our hand , and gave us an opportunity . They did it without expecting anything in return . They decided that we needed to be given a chance and they went out of their way to mentor , coach and support us along the pathway to leadership and hopefully success .
While attending the Women in Leadership Program in Strathmore , a few years ago , the lecturer took us through an important topic - serving on boards . According to elevatenetworm . com , there are five key benefits of serving on boards .
First , serving on boards strengthens your professional credibility . It is a public endorsement of your expertise and value . It can raise your professional profile among your peers , within the organization and across your industry . It can enhance your brand and reputation .
Secondly , serving on boards can help you grow your professional network . Board roles provide you with an opportunity to meet influential , intelligent and well-connected people . These relationships can be quite valuable when you are ready to pursue the next step in your career .
Thirdly , serving on boards enables you to strengthen your professional skills beneficial for career development . These skills include contributing to an organization ’ s strategic direction , leadership skills , improving financial health or market competitiveness for a business , performance evaluation , program fund raising and allocation , policy creation , etc . This broad experience is key especially where your functional expertise is in one particular area e . g ., finance or marketing .
Fourthly , serving on boards provides access to the inner workings of an organization as well as an opportunity to learn about other industries . This enhances your marketability especially if in future you want to pursue a role in a different industry .
Finally , serving on boards can reinvigorate
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I would like to invite you all to seek an opportunity to serve . Mentor , coach , serve on a board , whether it is your former primary school board , a not-for-profit organization or a corporate firm . Terri Koslowksi put it beautifully . Serving others allows you to create ripples in the water of life that helps heal the world . It is powerful to serve others . Not just for the receiver , but also for you .
By Fawzia Ali-Kimanthi
your career . You can use your expertise and skills as a board member to make a difference in a company , industry , community and possibly , in a lot of individual lives . For instance , the ability to mentor young girls and boys in communities can provide the opportunity for connection , inspiration and engagement and this can propel you to take your career to the next level .
I hope you can see Ben Carson ’ s quote coming to life . Serving on boards is a gift . While we serve , we receive much more than we give . This is the ultimate gift .
I hope the question you are now asking is how do I get to serve on a board ? According to Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance , 5 key considerations are essential in getting appointed to be a board of director .
Nurture Relationships
Many board members earn their positions through existing connections . Reach out to people serving on boards where you would like to serve and declare your interest . Keep all your contact current .
Promote Yourself
While your resume and skills could be well developed , this is not enough . You need to speak up about your contributions , the value you have created in prior companies and broadcast your interest in serving on a board . Speak at conference and write articles to raise your profile .
Develop A Speciality
In the current digital transformation era , companies are looking for board members who have expertise in an emerging area , such as artificial intelligence , machine learning ,
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