Board Roles in Japan - what's on your "must have"​ list?

I recently wrote an article on Linkedin about the must haves for a Board role in Japan

🔗 Link to the Article on Linkedin and reproduced below:

I recently spoke with Jenifer Rogers on the Lawyer on Air Podcast podcast. Jenifer is a current day example showing us how it’s done, leading the way as a woman board member on several boards in Japan.

Women are needed as board members in Japan more than ever. 

In the episode, Jenifer gives us her insights into what she does as a board member and how she contributes in her unique way. She also shares what lawyers in particular contribute as board members. The 🔗 link to listen is below, so you can grab all her insights!

That juicy conversation with Jenifer, got me thinking about the dossier I am building for my next board role. It's not complete yet but I came up with several items that I now have on my "Must Have List for Board Roles". Here they are:

The obvious: Besides the obvious bits of preparation such as updating your career document portfolio (making sure your CV is up to date, and optimizing your LinkedIn profile to reflect your high-level leadership experience and business acumen).

It’s also necessary to prepare several other things that may not be so obvious:

1. Know what your motivations are: Board roles require time commitment. Some are paid some not, so you need to be cognoscente of the time vs. reward element

2. Identify your value proposition: What are the skills, language capabilities, specific experience that you can bring to the boardroom? How have your leadership roles dovetailed with your community involvement in not-for-profit board roles and how do they enhance your value proposition?

3. Know where you are needed: List the companies that can benefit from having you on their team and customize your board elevator pitch and board statement for them – why they will benefit from you being seated at their boardroom table and hearing your unique voice?

4. What are the emerging trends in business in this company’s industry? I like the idea of looking to companies in industries that are aligned but may not be in the same industry my clients are in or where I have held in-house counsel roles in the past. This is a "future-looking" approach for board role searches.

5. Values match-up: If that company's values are not side by side to my values I won't be able to be passionate about working with them, even for a paid board role so I stick to my values! Working for a tabacco company is a clear "not for me" for example and I couldn't compromise my values to be on the board of a company in this industry.

6. Know how to voice your passion, unique value, and expertise and how that can be an asset to a company’s board, providing examples to back up these statements

7. Promote and publicise: that you are looking for a board role and be seen - by writing articles and putting your hand up for speaking engagements.

8. Network, network, and network just that little bit more: This was key for Jenifer Rogers for several of her appointments to boards as was building up relationships of trust over the years. That’s also significant in how I got my Board role on a KK company in Japan though the relationship I built up with the management while working in a bridging role as in-house counsel with them. You just never know where any of your past legal roles may lead you! Serendipidy abounds.

Q: Are you interested in joining a board in the next few years?

If so, here are some of the key women already on for-profit and not-for-profit boards in or related to Japan, who can show you the way! 

Melanie Brock Naomi Koshi Kaori Sasaki Mitsuru Claire Chino Masako ArakawaTasha Yorozu Sarah Furuya Ako Williams Fara Tarie

Q: What's on your "nice to have" or "must have" list for board roles you are searching for?

Share in the comments as I would love to see insights from my network!

🎧 Link to listen to the episode with Jenifer Rogers

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