5 QUESTIONS FOR Susan Schiffer Stautberg
Susan Schiffer Stautberg, president of PartnerCom Corporation, talks about why there is a need for a global community of women directors. 1. What inspired you to set up Women Corporate Directors ( WCD)? I co- founded WCD to give corporate women a chance to interact and learn from one another. With over 2,000 members who serve on over 3,500 boards, WCD membership provides a unique opportunity for networking, making new friends, and gaining new insights from the intellectual capital of accomplished women from across the world. Members also share information and insights in order to ensure best practices in corporate governance. 2. Why did you decide to bring WCD to India? Corporate governance demands a worldview. India’s growing economy has its fair share of ambitious, hard working and extremely talented corporate women. Our Indian arm gives us a chance to learn from them as well as give them a chance to learn from our international network. We hold networking meets and OnBoard Bootcamps for our members in India. At present we have around 25- 30 members who attend these events. 3. 3. What What are are some some of of the the difficulties difficulties faced faced by by women women directors directors today? today? Aside from striking the right work- life balance, senior women professionals today also need training on how to actually be a part of a board. Once you reach the pinnacle of your career, what do you do next and how do you go about it are often questions on their minds. Boards need the right leaders to adequately analyse risk, to have in- depth knowledge of their companies’ operations, to help management see beyond the next quarter to the bigger picture, regardless of the market. 4. 4. How How do do OnBoard OnBoard Bootcamps Bootcamps help help women women corporates? corporates? OnBoard OnBoard Bootcamp Bootcamp provides provides an an insider’s insider’s guide guide on on how how to to be be selected selected and and introduces introduces members members to to experienced experienced corporate corporate directors directors and and search search executives executives who who share share lessons lessons that that they they have have learned learned in in their their careers. careers. These These events events are are ideal ideal for for women women who who would would like like to to become become a a board board member member or or those those who who are are already already part part of of a a board board but but would would like like to to switch switch to to a a board board of of a a larger larger firm. firm. 5. 5. What What are are your your future future plans plans for for
WCD WCD in in India? India? We We held held two two events events last last month month in in India India which which were were attended attended by by around around 30 30 senior senior corporate corporate women women executives, executives, professionals professionals and and entrepreneurs. entrepreneurs. We We look look forward forward to to hosting hosting more more such such events events in in the the future future as as well well as as growing growing our our membership membership base. base.