Launched: Programme that prepares women in technology for board roles

A NEW one-year programme to prepare women in the digital and technology industry to be board directors has been launched. This initiative by the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) and Singapore Computer Society (SCS) also aims to improve digital readiness on company boards.

Registration for the board readiness programme opened on Monday (Feb 20). 

The programme is targeted at C-suite executives or professionals who have senior leadership experience and are interested in pursuing board directorship roles, SID and SCS said in a media statement. 

The initiative comes after the two organisations agreed to collaborate to increase the diversity and digital quotient of boards in September last year. 

“This programme will build a robust pipeline of board-ready women in technology (WIT) and encourage more women professionals to take up board appointments, thus directly addressing the issue of board diversity both in terms of gender and functional expertise,” SID and SCS said. 

The board readiness programme, which is supported by the Infocomm Media Development Authority, is also backed by over 20 leading companies in key industries, such as law firm Allen & Gledhill, professional services company Deloitte, and global consulting company McKinsey.

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It will focus on knowledge acquisition and skills training to raise awareness of the significance of good governance and build competencies in preparation for the role of a board director.  

Areas of coverage under the scope of director duties and corporate governance include board governance, financial literacy, climate risk and human capital development, among others. The programme’s breadth and depth of coverage also serves as its unique feature, said SID and SCS. 

SID and its knowledge partners will provide professional training and educational courses in the curriculum. These will be complemented by seminars and workshops jointly organised by SID and SCS, sharing of thought leadership resources, a mentorship programme, networking opportunities, as well as peer learning.

SCS’ WIT chapter president Tan Lee Chew said: “Having women with a strong understanding of digital technologies and trends on boards can help organisations make more informed decisions around the company’s digital strategy, innovation and investments while offering diverse perspectives.”