Future Directors Development Programme

Future Directors is a development program designed to bring future leaders into the boardroom through coaching, mentorship, and placement of young people. This program provides an opportunity to those new to governance to observe and participate on a board, learn from experienced directors, and learn from being mentored. It is a development program with 3 modular trainings, round table discussions, board simulations, and 2 one-on-one sessions or group mentorship sessions.

As the leading source for education and continuous advancement for public company directors, the goal of the Institute of Directors Zimbabwe is to provide corporate leaders with the resources they need to make an impact in the boardroom and beyond. As an executive seeking their first public company board seat, building a foundational understanding of oversight responsibilities and challenges Zimbabwean company directors face is critical in developing immediate trust with stakeholders and adding value in the boardroom from day one.

Therefore, the Institute of Directors has curated a set of resources and training to assist individuals in developing an understanding of the requirements of public company board service. During the program, participants will be invited to roundtables with fellow participants and selected veteran directors to ask them their biggest questions about board service. In addition, you will have the opportunity to attend “Director Fundamentals Workshop” for a deep dive into the core duties of
public company directors and key priorities for investors and regulators.

Learning Path

Module 1 – Director Fundamentals

Gain a thorough understanding of board roles and responsibilities with a strategy and leadership context, along with insights around current challenges and opportunities from veteran directors and industry experts.

Key Insights Learned

• Director duties and oversight responsibilities
• Strategy and board Leadership
• Board structure and operations
• Compliance and liabilities for boards
• Boards and shareholder engagement
• Disclosures and integrated reporting

Module features the Director Fundamentals training course & guide, reports,
and a webinar recording.

Module 2 – Boards, Shareholders and Regulators

Understand the relationship between the board, shareholders and regulators, in addition to oversight expectations to meet legal responsibilities and help companies prosper.

Key Insights Learned

• The Legal environment and board instruments
• Stakeholders’ short and long-term expectations
• The role of regulators in your ESG conversations
• Roadmap to approaching ESG in the boardroom
• How to properly communicate ESG initiatives
• Corporate Social Responsibilities

Module features reports and event session video recordings.

Module 3 – Governance Best Practices

Boards are tasked with issues that are highly complex and always evolving — learn how to build a competent board, be proactive in the on-boarding stages and assess board performance to build stakeholder trust.

Key Insights Learned

• Risk oversight framework
• Overview of board and committee composition
• Board Key committee functions
• Oversight of board function and evaluations
• Oversight of financial reporting for audit committees
• Response readiness and Business Continuity planning

Module features Risk oversight, the main Committees functions, terms of reference (ToRs) as well as performance and evaluation of the same

Mode of Study

The program is 80% experiential learning with mentorship sessions, roundtable discussions and boardroom simulation and 20% Modular training.

Modular Training

The program consist of 3 modules conducted over a period of 3 months, 3 consecutive days each month via ZOOM from 0900 hrs to 1130hrs (7hrs 30mins) for 3 session or the Accelerated version conducted over a period of 4 days (Physical) In-house option available upon request

Round Table Discussions

During the program, participants will be invited for physical roundtables and board simulations (2 hours for 3 Sessions) with fellow participants and select veteran directors to ask them questions about board service.

Mentorship Sessions

In addition, participants will have an opportunity to meet with corporate governance experts for a one-on-one session. The mentorship sessions will be conducted for an 1hr for 3 sessions commencing at the beginning of the program.

Case Study Presentation

• Participants are expected to conduct case study research for an industry and corporate governance topic of choice within 1 month after the modular training has been completed.
• The research should be produced in a PowerPoint format and will be presented to a panel of corporate governance experts.

Why does this training Matter for Future Directors?

• An understanding of the board and its facets, how you fit into the board role, as regarding the board understanding its dynamics, power, influence and conflicts.
• First-hand Boardroom experiential learning through Board Simulation.
• Knowledge of important topics and emerging topics: risk and crisis management, ESG, decision- making, mergers and acquisitions, leadership and board performance and ultimately your performance.
• An understanding of relevant techniques and tools to improve personal skills and that of the board, especially strategic leadership which is critical.
• An opportunity to improve the performance of your board, its committees and individual directors.
• Critical knowledge of financial stewardship and accountability “why” a lot of decisions are made in this room and someone must take responsibility whatever outcome, which is not always a voluntary position.
• Increased board role visibility and Board profile building.
• Access to esteemed Director Networks and development of Director capabilities.
• Ultimately the training gives leaders a 360-degree view on corporate governance and enhances the effectiveness of the board.

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