Accent Board Member Archana Makol features in a new report aimed at improving diversity within the housing and not-for-profit sector boards.
Ema consultancy, one of the sector’s longest-standing HR and recruitment specialists, and a company we have worked with to recruit a number of board members, is featuring 10 female board members in a new report which aims to encourage candidates from a variety of backgrounds to apply for governance roles.
The report shares the stories of 10 women from a range of commercial and public sector roles who all have taken different routes to secure board positions. A copy of the full report can be found at www.emaconsultancy.org.uk
About Archana
Outside Accent, Archana, who also chairs our Audit and Risk Committee, has led an award-winning legal team for BT of more than 60 with an annual legal case volume of 20,000. The main areas of expertise have been personal injury/health and safety law, network damage and vehicle claims.
“My path to board membership started partly because I was seeking personal development” Archana says “but also because I knew my experience in liability and risk could be of value to another organisation. My employer was actively encouraging people to consider non-executive roles and was prepared to support the time needed to fulfil them.”
“In addition to having the time and support of your employer, it also sometimes takes someone else’s encouragement to convince you to that you have something to offer and thanks to that belief from a male colleague, I made my first move.”
“To anyone who is considering applying to join a board, I’d said you need to be really be clear about what you’re best at, but also what you’re less good at, plus what support you need to help you build skills in other areas.”
“Being with Accent is both enjoyable and appropriately challenging and I have learned a huge amount. It’s not about just having something else to do, it’s a chance to do something that feels morally good, which you get a lot out of and get to put a lot into.”
Anne Elliott, managing director of ema consultancy, said: “Our next initiative will see us run a workshop and linked support package for those considering a board role. Widening the application pool will help ensure more effective boards across the sector, which is good news for customers.”
