By: Felix Global
The Felix Board Alliance had the privilege of hosting Deirdre Drake at our June Board Alliance event, where she shared her profound knowledge and experience in leveraging human resources skills for corporate board roles. The “Boardroom Bound: The Strategic Advantage of CHROs on Today’s Boards” event provided invaluable insights for those aspiring to excel as board directors.
Deirdre Drake, with her extensive background as Chief People Officer at US Cellular and CHRO of BMO Capital Markets, alongside her roles at ARAMARK Corp, Kraft Foods, and Marathon Oil, brought a wealth of expertise to the discussion. Currently, she serves on US Cellular and TopBuild Corp boards, advises private company Felix, and contributes to non-profit boards such as the American Red Cross and the Chicago Public Library Foundation.
During the live interview, Deirdre emphasized the unique qualities and skills that CHROs bring to board roles. She highlighted the importance of understanding organizational culture, talent management, and strategic HR leadership. Deirdre also offered practical advice on enhancing one’s chances of securing a board position, stressing that aiming for larger boards is not always the best strategy.
Key takeaways from the event included:
- The strategic advantages HR professionals offer boards include their expertise in human capital and organizational dynamics.
- The critical qualities needed to excel as a board director are strategic thinking, governance knowledge, and effective communication skills.
- Deirdre’s personal experiences and lessons learned from her diverse board memberships provide a real-world perspective on navigating the board landscape.
- The event was a unique opportunity to learn from one of the industry’s most accomplished leaders, offering actionable steps for those seeking to advance their careers in corporate governance.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful session. Stay tuned for more events and opportunities to learn from top industry leaders. If you missed the live event, a recording will be available soon on our website.
For more information on any of the topics discussed, please visit www.felixglobal.com
