1 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE TOOL
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SETTING UP AND MANAGING A GENDER-SMART BOARD SOP SETTING UP GENDER-SMART BOARDS – THE FIRST BOARD MEETING 1. How Board members are assigned, and who is on the Board should be clarified in the legal documents, which were signed at the investment close. Start by reviewing these legal documents with the SME owners. 2. Internally, decide which fund manager team member will be the Board member. Ensure an equal representation of women and men are on the Board. 3. Print or send the shareholder this SOP before the initial meeting, which establishes the working relationship between the fund manager and the portfolio company (see the Statement of Work Template below). 4. At the First 180-Days kick-off meeting, the fund manager and the portfolio company must agree on the assignment of Board member positions and formally schedule the first Board meeting. 5. During the first Board meeting, the fund manager should walk through the role of the Board and other elements in this SOP. Then, the Board members will assign/confirm the CEO of the company, the Board Chair, the Board Secretary, and the Observers, ensuring there is an equal distribution of men and women among the members. 6. The Board Secretary or the Observers will capture notes from the Board meeting. This will usually be a member of fund manager’s team, but ideally, they will be training a Board secretary that works within the company. 7. Key outcomes of the first Board meeting include: a. All members understand the role of the Board. b. Board members are assigned and understand their roles. c. The Board meeting schedule is established (monthly, quarterly, etc.). 8. Next steps: a. The Board Chair will prepare the ethics policy of the company for the next Board meeting. b. The Board Secretary will send the notes out and schedule the next Board meeting. c. All will read this “Setting Up & Managing a Board SOP”. d. The SME CEO will prepare the annual management plan and the accompanying budget. Reference Tools & Templates (Included Below): Statement of Work (SOW) Template
RUNNING GENDER-SMART BOARD MEETINGS – BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER