Board Level
The Australian Institute of Company Directors
Podcast
Episodes
Listen, download, subscribe
Part 2 - Sam Mostyn on opening doors to women on board
This episode, Catherine interviews Non-Executive Director and Sustainability Advisor, Sam Mostyn, one of Australia’s most experienced female board directors and chairs with experience that spans business, government, sport, the arts and community organisations. Sam talks about the responsibility of being a trailblazer, why she’s not concerned about being a quota appointment to a board and why women should worry less about why they’re asked to go on a board and think more about the skills they bring to the table. Part 1 (of this two-part episode) Valuable Discussion Points [00:48] Why did Sam take the board pathway, what came up and what crossroads did she find herself facing? Working as a senior executive at Insurance Australia Group, Sam was approached by the Australian Football League with an opportunity to be the first female appointed to its board. Whilst it was a huge decision, Sam felt it was the right one and would provide her with invaluable skills and life experience for her future career. In addition, it also gave her an opportunity to help change the whole nature of governance in a sporting code that she cared about and bring her own skills and knowledge to the table. [03:28] Was the experience a baptism of fire? Sam was the first female appointed board member within an industry that has traditionally been very male-dominated. Whilst, Sam knew the role would require a high level of self confidence, sense and tactics which she mentioned can be difficult at times, she was surprised to learn that whilst the Australian Football League is viewed as a very masculine organisation, women play an extremely important role in supporting these organisations. As such, Sam made a conscious effort to ensure that whilst she was the first female appointed board director, she certainly wouldn’t be the last, with five strong female leaders having been appointed since her commencement. [06:29] Her support of the quota system and how she opened the doors for future female board members? Women still do not have parity in most industries and companies and as a result there needs to be quotas and systems in place that ensure women are seated at the table where important decisions are being made. Women, who believe these quotas are not meritorious appointments should aim to decouple the word merit from quota and understand that they were chosen because they were the best person for the job. For the women who are offered these opportunities, Sam encourages them to accept and show their great character, strength and merit rather than worrying about how they got there. up to them to bring their best self into those rooms and open the way for others to come. [08:30] When is it the right time to make the transition to a board level position, such as a NED? There are arguments for both taking on the role of a NED, or remaining in an executive role. It comes down to the strengths each woman has built over their careers. It is important to understand that a NED role is not for everyone, it is not a lifestyle choice and can be very demanding and challenging. However, it is also extremely rewarding. Part 2 (of this two-part episode) Valuable Discussion Points [05.27] Has she said no to a board approach? Sam’s approach to being a board member is to ensure she has a balanced portfolio of organisations ranging from ASX companies, to non-profits, to charities. Whilst many opportunities have presented themselves, Sam chooses those businesses and roles that she cares about. It doesn’t matter whether the company is big or small, or whether it adds lustre to her CV, if the company values do not align with hers, it is not a board where she can deploy her best skills. [16:59] What has changed in the boardrooms? What is different now? There are more women in the boardrooms now and whilst this is not a numbers game, we
Board Level RSS Feed
