Stacy Brown-Philpot, COO of TaskRabbit and newly appointed board member at HP Inc, shares her journey in securing a board seat after her tenure at Google. She reveals the unique nature of board interviews, contrasting them with job interviews, and the importance of preparation. Stacy discusses factors to consider for board service, the dynamics of public vs. private company boards, and the value of diversity in governance. She also offers insights on the operational challenges COOs face and the significance of leveraging personal networks for board opportunities.
The board interview process prioritizes relationship building over self-promotion, focusing on demonstrating interpersonal skills rather than personal achievements.
Joining a public company board provides valuable insights into governance dynamics and emphasizes the importance of detailed documentation during meetings.
Deep dives
Navigating the Board Interview Process
The board interview process is markedly different from a traditional job interview, as it emphasizes relationship building rather than self-promotion. Candidates are expected to enter these interviews with the understanding that they have already demonstrated their qualifications to be considered. Instead of discussing personal achievements, the focus shifts to engaging with current board members and assessing the dynamics of collaboration. This approach allows candidates to showcase their interpersonal skills and ability to contribute effectively to the board's collective governance.
The Importance of Public Company Experience
Joining a public company board offers unique insights into governance and fiduciary responsibilities that are not as prominent in private company boards. The heightened level of oversight and the requirement for strategic guidance create a different operational dynamic that new board members must navigate. One key learning was the significance of detailed documentation during board meetings, including aspects like note-taking, which can carry legal implications. This experience greatly enhances an executive’s understanding of how to operate at a higher level of corporate governance.
Strategies for Board Membership Success
Aspiring board members should take a proactive approach in expressing their interest and building a network to promote their candidacy. Engaging in conversations with existing board members and leveraging referrals from those already in the board space can open doors to opportunities. Additionally, it is vital to articulate what unique skills and perspectives one can bring to a board, particularly in terms of understanding modern consumer behaviors. Being clear about one’s availability and commitment is essential, as boards are seeking engaged members who can provide real-time insights.
When you're going for a board interview -- especially when it's your first board seat -- you're actually not supposed to go into it advocating for yourself and trying to convince people that you're a good operator, as you might in a job interview. So what does the board interview involve then? Is all the common advice we hear about getting on boards (e.g., "don't talk about strategy") really true?
TaskRabbit COO Stacy Brown-Philpot, who was just announced to the HP Inc board (in Hewlett Packard's first major board shuffle since it split into two companies), answers these questions and shares other interesting nuggets from her experience getting her first board seat. She also shares why she went for a public board, as well as what other factors you should consider -- and really matter -- when considering board service. Joining her is Matt Levy, who manages a16z's board and mentor talent network as part of the executive talent team. For more resources on boards, see http://a16z.com/tag/board-matters-series/.
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