Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom

Drive strategic directions and succeed as a board member

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

January 4, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

6 weeks, online
4–6 hours per week

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

US$2,850 US$2,622 and get US$285 off with a referral

Course Information Flexible payment available
Course Fee

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program fee

US$2,850 US$2,622

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Who is this program for?

The Corporate Governance: Maximize Your Effectiveness in the Boardroom program is designed to give participants a deeper understanding of corporate governance and help boost their effectiveness on a corporate board.

The program is ideal for:

  • Current board members and senior executives interested in joining a board who want to understand the various aspects of proactive governance and help drive strategic direction, risk oversight and the establishment of compensation.
  • C-suite executives looking to explore the duties and nuances of board service, help strengthen their company's financial return, enterprise risk management and governance diversity, and learn to effectively take on existing and emerging issues.
  • Attorneys engaged in legal services who are seeking to learn the fundamentals of corporate governance from a variety of angles and how to assess the effectiveness and execution of governance roles and responsibilities.

Overview

Today’s organizations are working harder than ever to adapt to a rapidly changing world. This requires effective corporate governance that can help them increase their accountability and avoid major disasters while also being more responsive to stakeholder concerns and more transparent with investors. Whether you’re already on a board or looking to join one, this program will help you navigate unexpected enterprise risks while capably monitoring financial performance. From the technical responsibilities of a board to the nuances of guiding an organization through contemporary challenges, you’ll get a comprehensive overview of the role of corporate governance and gain critical insights into the realities of board service.

77%

More than three-quarters of corporate and private equity executives interviewed said they incorporate ESG metrics in setting valuations and assessing risks.

SOURCE: 2022 THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS (NACD) GOVERNANCE OUTLOOK

72%

Since 2020, about 72 percent of new directors are from under-represented groups.

SOURCE: 2022 THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS (NACD) GOVERNANCE OUTLOOK

Key Takeaways

Wharton’s Corporate Governance program explores the role, structure, and responsibilities of corporate governance to help you succeed as a board member. This program will enable you to:

  • Define the board’s role and responsibilities as well as characteristics of successful board leaders
  • Ensure proactive governance and learn how to prepare for potential risks
  • Recognize key considerations of compensation and succession planning
  • Define strategies for board members, executives, and other environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integrators to respond to conflicting demands and societal challenges to their organization
  • Plan for how to manage the competing interests of stakeholders and shareholders

Program Modules

Module 1:

Introduction to Corporate Governance

Begin the program by learning the basic structure and responsibilities of a board as an organization’s top level of governance.

Module 2:

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Board

Explore the features of an inclusive board culture and its role in leveraging diverse talent.

Module 3:

Compensation and Succession

Articulate the role of the board in CEO compensation and succession planning.

Module 4:

Crisis Management

Describe how a board should manage crisis situations and/or internal investigations.

Module 5:

ESG and Shareholder Engagement

Gain insights into the challenges and benefits inherent in ESG and outline considerations for developing an optimal organization-level ESG strategy.

Module 6:

Balancing Stakeholder and Shareholder Interests

Recognize the influence of non-market factors (such as external social, political, and legal forces) on organizations.

Module 1:

Introduction to Corporate Governance

Begin the program by learning the basic structure and responsibilities of a board as an organization’s top level of governance.

Module 4:

Crisis Management

Describe how a board should manage crisis situations and/or internal investigations.

Module 2:

Building a Diverse and Inclusive Board

Explore the features of an inclusive board culture and its role in leveraging diverse talent.

Module 5:

ESG and Shareholder Engagement

Gain insights into the challenges and benefits inherent in ESG and outline considerations for developing an optimal organization-level ESG strategy.

Module 3:

Compensation and Succession

Articulate the role of the board in CEO compensation and succession planning.

Module 6:

Balancing Stakeholder and Shareholder Interests

Recognize the influence of non-market factors (such as external social, political, and legal forces) on organizations.

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Program Experience

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Discussion Boards

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Polls

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Reflections

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Industry Examples

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Assignments

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Live Office Hours

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Try-it Activities

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Self-Study Quizzes

Industry Examples

This online program provides real-world learning examples to help you understand the realities of corporate governance in practice through the experiential lens of leading global brands.

Apple

Analyze Apple’s board demographics to understand the value of diversity in background, experience, and skill sets.

Disney

Understand the importance of board accountability and how a captive board can reduce oversight in governance via this example of Disney’s board being comprised of friends and acquaintances of its president, Michael Ovitz.

Mylan

Understand the impact of non-market factors through this example of the pharmaceutical organization, Mylan.

Starbucks

See how some companies (Starbucks,in this case) take diversity to heart and the influence that a diverse board can have.

Wells Fargo

Recognize the impact of diversity in background, experience, and skill sets through an analysis of Wells Fargo’s board composition.

Corporate Governance Handbook

This program enables you to explore the processes and responsibilities that drive corporate governance. It also includes a handbook where you can reflect on the program content and how it can help you succeed in a board member role. Topics addressed in the handbook include:

  • Laying the groundwork: Begin by drafting your director bio and exploring the importance of marketing yourself.
  • Conducting a personal skills audit: Assess your professional background to help you understand your strengths and any critical gaps in your knowledge or experience for board positions you’re seeking.
  • Finding your director doppelganger: Focus on strategically networking with directors who possess experience/characteristic profiles that are similar to yours, as they can help point you toward boards that are looking for a candidate with your profile.
  • Demonstrating your grit: Be able to persuasively articulate your experience in crisis/adversity situations.
  • Completing a leadership style assessment: Consider how your style informs the way you would manage various stakeholders, as well as which stakeholders you’re most comfortable interacting with and/or advocating for in the boardroom.
  • Putting the pieces together: Define and characterize your personal guiding principles via a concise and effective board value statement.

Faculty

Faculty Member Mary-Hunter McDonnell

Mary-Hunter McDonnell

Associate Professor of Management, Organizational Behavior, The Wharton School

Mary-Hunter McDonnell studies organizational behavior within challenging institutional contexts, such as contentious social environments and uncertain regulatory environments. Her research draws on organizational theory and political sociology to explore political interactions between corporations and their myriad stakeholders... More info

Guest Speaker

Faculty Member Sean P. McDonnell

Sean P. McDonnell

Partner, Mayer Brown

Sean McDonnell is a partner in Mayer Brown's Washington D.C. office and a member of the global Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice. Previously, Sean was an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

During his tenure as a federal prosecutor, Sean first-chaired several jury trials to verdict and oversaw large-scale investigations, including complex wiretap and forensic financial investigations. He prosecuted a variety of cases involving, among other things, tax fraud, wire fraud, insurance fraud, bank fraud, and public corruption.

Before his stint as an AUSA, Sean was a litigator in Mayer Brown’s Chicago and Washington D.C. offices, where he represented corporate clients in white-collar investigations and various civil litigation matters, including antitrust and securities cases. He regularly teaches courses on managing legal risk at the Wharton School, including a recent “Crash Course on Internal Investigations” seminar.

Testimonials

"I'm currently on a publicly traded company's board and this course and its relevance has given me the insight and confidence to be more effective in my board role."

— Myron Williams, Pres. Sales Strategy & Sales Operations

"The best thing about the program was the pace and clarity of content, the quizzes and the assignments. It was the best online program I've attended"

— Mary Patry, PCC, IT Executive Advisor and Coach, ITEFFECTIVITY,LLC

"The course materials and videos were relevant and always insightful. I also benefitted a lot from the structure of the program in that it required you as a professional to be introspective about your board value proposition."

— Collin Bailey, Senior Vice President, PMO, QA and Tech Business Office, Hudson’s Bay Company

"I really enjoyed the video modules and corresponding scripts. The professors who graded the homework were insightful, posed thoughtful ideas to noodle on, and were supportive. Office hours helped a ton and I enjoyed Karima and Elliot's conversational and collaborative style with high standards and expectations."

— Michele Love, CEO, Sunrise Brands

Certificate

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn a digital certificate of completion from the Wharton School.

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Note: After successful completion of the online program, your verified digital certificate will be emailed to you in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Wharton School.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.

  • What is the policy on refunds and withdrawals?

    You may request a full refund within seven days of your payment or 14 days after the published start date of the program, whichever comes later. If your enrollment had previously been deferred, you will not be entitled to a refund. Partial (or pro-rated) refunds are not offered. All withdrawal and refund requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.



    What is the policy on deferrals?

    After the published start date of the program, you have until the midpoint of the program to request to defer to a future cohort of the same program. A deferral request must be submitted along with a specified reason and explanation. Cohort changes may be made only once per enrollment and are subject to availability of other cohorts scheduled at our discretion. This will not be applicable for deferrals within the refund period, and the limit of one deferral per enrollment remains. All deferral requests should be sent to admissions@emeritus.org.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 680 205 5118 (US) / +44 185 845 9995 (UK) / +65 3135 1422 (SG)

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