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NxGen COACH Network™ and Womble Bond Dickinson have joined forces to educate and empower business leaders from underrepresented communities to become effective boardroom directors through the NxGen COACH Network Governance Training Camp. This intensive, year-long program, which kicked off in November 2023, aims to help participants—who are proven leaders from diverse backgrounds—find and secure positions on public and private company boards.

As the inaugural cohort nears its final session, the Fellows have feedback—and that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

What is the superpower that you will bring to the boardroom?

“I have a keen understanding of the intricate relationship between organizational success and robust internal controls, I specialize in fostering a profound connection between my internal customers and the critical role that strong internal controls play in optimizing and realizing strategic plans.”
—Alicia Wilson, Vice President/Chief Audit Officer at Southwire Company

“My superpower in the boardroom is a systems-thinking mindset coupled with innovation, technology, and cybersecurity expertise. Deep financial services expertise from Bank of America, PwC Alum, holder of many patents, having served on IBM’s Trustworthy AI Invention Board, and my ‘T’ shaped skills allow me to oversee strategic decisions and eliminate blind spots, co-creating innovative new business models and ultimately differentiating the company’s competitive advantage.”
—Khwaja Shaik, IBM CTO

Now that you are a few months into the NxGen program, what has been the most helpful part of the program?

“The most impactful part of the program has been the insights that have been shared by the invited guests to each session.  They have given invaluable information that will definitely help us on our board journey.”
—Mark Wilson, Chief Impact Officer at VXI Global Solutions, LLC

“The exposure of the different committees and the roles and responsibilities of each have been extremely helpful in understanding where I best fit and the overall role of board members.”
—Alicia Wilson

How do you balance this program’s demands with your career and other obligations?

“My approach is do everything to ensure that I make critical items non-negotiable. I made this one of my most critical items and made time for it. Entering this program, I cleared my non-profit board slate to create space to serve on corporate boards.” 
—Sam Divine, GrowthXel CEO

What are your personal goals for board service?

“My passion for board service is driven by a belief in deep purpose and inclusive capitalism. I aim to scale my impact from success to significance by aligning purpose with financial success. By serving the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, investors, communities, and the planet, we can create sustained value. Creating value through innovation and good technology is a cornerstone of my philosophy. As a board director, I strive to take directorship seriously by asking smart questions on portfolio optimization processes, cyber risk oversight, and technology governance. This approach ensures long-term returns while providing short-term performance.”
—Khwaja Shaik

“My goal is to serve on boards where I am the best fit and they are the best fits for me. I believe in the value I bring and feel that value will be seen as unique at the right organizations.”
—Sam Divine

Which speakers did you find particularly interesting or helpful? Why?

“I found them all interesting as each brought a little something different to the table. However, for me, Irma Goyal Shrivastava was the most interesting by far as, given her background, experiences, and journey, she probably served as the closest comp for me. It was refreshing for me to learn that marketers, while we must be extremely intentional in our searches, can play valuable roles on the right boards. Additionally, the fact that she had a formal presentation prepared and willingly shared that document was an additional benefit.”
—Doug Jackson, Principal and Co-Founder of Shared Vision Marketing

What would you say to other candidates who are considering joining the NxGen COACH Network™ Governance Training Camp?

“Do it! You will find that it is well worth the time and effort that you have to invest in the program. I’m certain you will learn things that will help you if you are interested in board leadership.”
—Mark Wilson

“I’m a huge advocate and have already begun recommending this to others. I continue to highly recommend this program and view it as an opportunity for others to both sharpen their skills and increase their demand. Honestly, it’s a no-brainer.”
—Doug Jackson

Despite a visible push to increase diversity on corporate boards, challenges remain. A 2023 Alliance for Board Diversity/Deloitte report revealed that people from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups held only 22.2 percent of Fortune 500 board seats. Additionally, EgonZehnder’s latest Global Board Diversity Tracker found that women's representation on boards had increased by 3.7 percent since 2020. However, these numbers still lagged the proportion of such groups in the general population. Furthermore, diversity policies did not always translate into inclusivity, notably for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+.

The idea for the Governance Training Camp originated from a conversation NxGen COACH Network™ Founder Archie Jones had with Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) Partner Jamie Connelly after securing a board position. Their partnership, supported by WBD Partners Sid Shenoy, Chris Gyves, and Jamie Francis, led them to reflect on the fact that many qualified peers were being overlooked for board service.

The program focuses on three key areas:

  • What You Know? Beyond governance basics, participants gained an understanding of issues and topics driving today's board agenda.
  • Who You Know? Fellows are analyzing, expanding, and cultivating their current network.
  • How You Show? The program highlights and showcases the experiences and qualities that increased participants' attractiveness as board candidates.

Sessions alternate between virtual and in-person at WBD’s Atlanta office, with interaction among the Fellows being a crucial component of the program. The final session will take place in New York and include a visit to the New York Stock Exchange.

By empowering diverse leaders with the knowledge and networks needed for board service, NxGen COACH Network™ and WBD are making significant strides towards more inclusive corporate governance.

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