The Certified Board Member Chair of Board Course helped Ben Selby prepare for his new role as Chair of the Board at Woodly. The course also gave him a deeper understanding of the role, from working with the CEO to shaping board culture and supporting shareholders in ownership strategy.
Ben Selby is the newly appointed Chair of the Board for Finnish-British material technology company Woodly. He has also recently completed the Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Certified Board Member Chair of Board Course. The prerequisite for this course was the Certified Board Member Course, which Selby had already attended a couple of years earlier.
“In my executive roles, I have worked closely with boards of directors and was already familiar with many aspects of board work. Still, the Certified Board Member course deepened my understanding of the board’s responsibilities and gave me practical insights into its work. The Chair of Board course, in turn, strengthened my understanding of the complexity and depth of the chair’s role”, Selby says.
Valuable discussions and practical tips
By coincidence, the timing of the course turned out to be just right for Selby as shortly afterwards he began his role as Chair of the Board at Woodly.
“It was very good timing for me, as it helped me prepare for my new role as Chair of the Board”, Selby says.
The two-day course also allowed enough time for discussions with the instructors.
“I could talk through my situation with the instructors who were experienced board professionals (naturally without revealing any names). These discussions and practical tips were incredibly valuable to me”, Selby says.
Key takeaways for working with the CEO
An important part of a chair’s role is collaboration with the CEO. A good chair is expected to build trust while maintaining the right balance between support and constructive challenge.
”The CEOs are experts in their fields. They don’t need anyone to dictate what to do and when to do it. You need trust, coaching, and sparring. But you also need the challenge. We had some really good discussions about chair-CEO collaboration during the course,” Selby explains.
Gained appreciation of the depth of the chair’s role
The course gave Selby new perspectives on the chair’s role. The chair not only represents the board externally but also plays an integral role in shaping the board culture.
“Understanding the depth and complexity gave me greater appreciation for the work chairs do. Good board dynamics are critical. The chair leads by example”, Selby says.
He also appreciates the perspective the course gave him on the chair’s role in supporting the shareholders in ownership strategy discussions.
“The course made me think more of the importance of ownership strategy. In theory it is the responsibility of the shareholder, but the chair’s input can be crucial to help them clarify it”, Selby explains.
Not just for chairs but also for executives working with chairs
Selby recommends the Certified Board Member Chair of Board Course to anyone interested in taking on the role of Chair of the Board. For him, it gave a deeper understanding of the chair’s role beyond governance. He also believes that the course is valuable for anyone working with chairs.
“I recommend the course for anyone who is interested in becoming a Chair of the Board, but it is also good for anyone working with or supporting chairs such as executives and board members. It gives a different perspective on the depth of the chair’s role.”