I’ve spent years working in governance, leadership, finance and strategy. One thing I’ve learned is that stepping into the boardroom—whether as a member, a C-suite executive, or someone aspiring to those roles—can feel daunting without the right tools and insights.
I created Become Board Ready to take the guesswork out of governance and help leaders like you confidently navigate boardroom dynamics. This program isn’t about theory—it’s about equipping you with real-world skills, practical tools, and the confidence to make meaningful contributions at the highest level.
Whether you’re preparing to serve on a board, interacting with one as a senior leader, or aiming to refine your current boardroom impact, this program will empower you to:
Lead with Confidence: Navigate boardroom dynamics seamlessly.
Make an Impact: Oversee strategy, risk, and finances with clarity.
Advance Your Career: Elevate your leadership and position yourself to build meaningful influence in the boardroom.
I believe governance excellence isn’t just a competency—it’s a mindset. And it will be my privilege to help you embrace that mindset on your Journey to Boardroom Excellence.
Over six weeks, you’ll build governance expertise through live workshops, practical exercises, and guided discussions. You’ll gain:
Clarity: Understand the distinct roles of the board and management.
Confidence: Communicate effectively and make seamless governance decisions.
Tools: Master the essentials of strategic oversight, risk management, and financial acumen.
A 9-module program designed to provide governance literacy and practical strategies, empowering leaders to navigate boardroom challenges, oversee critical responsibilities, and contribute meaningfully to organizational success.
Objective: Establish a foundational understanding of governance principles, the board’s authority, and its responsibilities.
What You’ll Learn:
The key principles of governance and how they are integral to building trust, growth, and long-term value creation.
The board’s legal responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and authority.
How governance frameworks, such as charters and committees, are expected to support board operations.
Objective: Clarify the distinct roles, responsibilities, and boundaries of the board, management, and other governance players.
What You’ll Learn:
The distinct responsibilities, authorities, and boundaries of the board, chair, CEO, corporate secretary, and committees.
Strategies to maintain clarity between governance and management roles.
How to foster collaboration while respecting role boundaries.
Objective: Build strategies for fostering trust, managing conflict, and enhancing interpersonal communication in the boardroom.
What You’ll Learn:
The role of emotional (EQ) and social intelligence (SQ) in navigating boardroom dynamics.
Strategies to build trust, resolve conflicts, and foster inclusive communication.
Techniques for managing interpersonal challenges and building consensus.
Objective: Equip participants with the tools and strategies to oversee and align organizational strategy effectively.
What You’ll Learn:
The board’s role in setting strategic direction and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
Techniques for monitoring and assessing strategic progress.
Tools like dashboards and scorecards to track alignment and results.
Objective: Prepare for risk oversight and crisis management through proactive governance practices.
What You’ll Learn:
Strategies for identifying and assessing mission-critical risks.
How to establish and evaluate escalation procedures for crises.
Oversight of compliance frameworks to ensure organizational resilience.
Objective: Unpack the rudiments of evaluating performance, driving accountability, and ensuring results.
What You’ll Learn:
The board’s role in ensuring accountability for financial and operational results.
Techniques for overseeing performance management systems.
The importance of aligning results with strategic goals.
Objective: Ensure reporting practices provide the clarity, substance, and standards necessary to support effective board oversight and decision-making.
What You’ll Learn:
How ineffective reporting practices hinder oversight and governance processes.
Techniques for identifying and addressing gaps in the quality and integrity of reports.
Best practices for creating reports that facilitate informed and impactful board decisions.
Objective: Shape governance culture and ethical leadership by reinforcing the board and management's influence on conduct and values.
What You’ll Learn:
How the board shapes organizational culture and ethical leadership.
The utility of codes of conduct as drivers of board and organizational behavior.
Strategies for balancing stakeholder rights and governance priorities.
Objective: Integrate all modules into an actionable governance plan through a case study discussion.
What You’ll Learn:
Synthesize all learnings into a practical governance plan.
Participate in a case study discussion to apply strategic oversight, risk management, reporting standards, and ethical leadership principles.
Develop a personalized Board Readiness Improvement Plan for effective governance contributions.
"Cecile knows her stuff"
"I have seen Cecile skillfully influence and guide a board to recognize and implement a sound governance framework. She does excellent work in this space." - Sherene C
"Highly recommend this"
"Cecile is without question a leading authority on Good Governance. The influence she brings to strengthen the framework and fundamentals packs a solid punch." - Duke H
"I can't wait to participate"
"Cecile's guidance and expert and wise counsel as a governance practitioner with many years serving boards has been beneficial to me in my work as a director ." - Donna H
"No hesitation in recommending this"
"Hi Cecile. I thoroughly enjoyed your ABC Track to Good Governance course. The level of training was first class and on point. I want to recommend it to my board. Can I give them your details?" - Client
Become Board Ready
Level Up For Excellence In Governance
100% risk free - 7 day money-back guarantee.
If you decide it’s not right for you, simply let us know within 7 days of starting the program, and we’ll refund your payment in full.
You will also receive:
Certificate of participation
Digital Badge for use on your collateral
90-day FREE access to community.
Here's what you get:
Weekly Live Workshops (90 Minutes): Interactive sessions featuring real world scenarios, proprietary frameworks, and Q&A discussions. Recordings posted and available during program.
Office Hours (1 Hour/Week): Optional group discussions to address your questions and share insights with peers.
Self-Work (2-3 Hours/Week): Practical exercises, reflection prompts, and curated readings to deepen your learning.
Monthly Check-Ins (Post-Program): Stay accountable with virtual follow-ups to track your progress for 3 months beyond the program.
Capstone Project: A culminating case study exercise to apply your knowledge and demonstrate governance literacy.
Total Value: USD $7,000+
Full price: USD $2,497
"I'm anticipating only the best."
"I consider it a privilege to have worked with Cecile in the boardroom. With all my experience, I still learn so much from her. You won't be disappointed." - Barry C
Everything You May Want to Know Before You Join Become Board Ready
This program is designed for aspiring board members, current directors looking to enhance their governance literacy, senior leaders who interact with boards, and anyone seeking to develop the skills to contribute effectively in governance roles.
You’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of governance principles, boardroom dynamics, strategic oversight, risk management, performance accountability, and more. The program equips you with the tools and confidence to practically navigate real-world board challenges.
The program runs over six weeks and includes:
Weekly live workshops (90 minutes each), 6:30pm - 8:00pm EST, every Wednesday starting 08 January 2025.
Weekly office hours (optional, 1 hour).
Self-paced assignments (2–3 hours per week).
All sessions are recorded, so you can access them anytime.
Expect to dedicate approximately 4–5 hours per week, which includes live sessions, office hours, and self-paced work. The program is designed to fit seamlessly into your busy schedule. There are no penalties for no shows. You are accountable to yourself to get the most out of this program.
No problem! All live workshops are recorded and available to watch at your convenience. You’ll have access to the recordings for the duration of the program.
Absolutely. The governance principles you will learn in Become Board Ready will apply across industries. Whether you’re in corporate, nonprofit, or public sector leadership, the skills you’ll gain are essential for effective boardroom contributions.
Absolutely. The governance principles you will learn in Become Board Ready are globally applicable. We will also point you to where you may be guided for jurisdictional differences. Whether you’re in Canada, the US, Caribbean, UK or other countries globally, the skills you’ll gain are essential for effective boardroom contributions.
Yes, we offer a 7-day risk-free guarantee. Attend the first session, and if you feel the program isn’t right for you, let us know within 7 days for a full refund.
Once you enroll, you’ll receive access to a dedicated course platform where you can view recordings, download resources, and connect with other participants.
Your learning doesn’t stop! After the 6-week program, you’ll have:Monthly check-ins for 3 months to support your ongoing growth. You will also have 3 months of free access to the boardVOXhq community, where you can network and continue your governance journey.
Our experience speaks for itself. With decades of expertise, we’ve partnered with countless boards, directors, and organizations to elevate governance practices. These numbers represent our commitment to delivering impactful solutions and empowering leaders to excel in the boardroom.
YEARS SERVING BOARDS
BOARDS
DIRECTORS & C-SUITE LEADERS
Copyright 2025 A Cecile Watson