Deborah Rosati is an accomplished corporate director, entrepreneur, Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant and Certified Corporate Director with more than 30 years of experience in technology, consumer retail, private equity, and more! Deborah shares what women can do today to prepare to get on a board and how to navigate these unclear waters while managing your full-time executive job. No matter what, do not get discouraged. You are in the position you’re in for a reason!

Key Takeaways

• Successful and well-accomplished women are struggling with confidence.
• How did Deborah get started as a corporate director?
• Deborah went into business because she wanted to be a businessman like her father.
• Knowledge is power, which is why Deborah strives to be a life-long learner.
• Deborah shares her story of how she got into helping women get on boards before it became ‘trendy.’
• What were some of Deborah’s personal challenges being in a room full of men?
• Deborah made sure she showed up before the meeting would start and made sure she could attend every meeting in person.
• Deborah broke down barriers when she joined a board where everybody knew each other for years and years and she was the outsider.
• Building relationships hasn’t changed. You need trust in almost anything you do.
• What types of challenges are women facing right now when trying to be on a board?
• You can’t have a laundry list of what you’re offering. You have to niche down and be very intentional on what skill sets you want to bring to a board. Highlight just your top skills.
• How can a woman relatively new in her executive career get on a board five to 10 years from now?
• Deborah sees a lot of women in her workshops struggle with confidence and some do not feel qualified to take the next step in their career.
• You deserve to be in the boardroom!
• If you get a ‘no,’ ask them why. Use it as a learning opportunity and stay positive.
• What are you doing to prepare and create that runaway for your future?

Resources

Evolutionizemedia.com/podcasts/shes-talking-back

Deborahrosati.ca

Womengetonboard.ca

Quotes

Michelle’s quote: “The most common area of support Deborah has to offer her members, women who are seeking corporate board positions, is around the area of confidence.”

“I had to find other ways to build communication and build rapport. I wasn’t golfing with the men or racing sports cars with them, or smoking cigars and drinking scotch with them. I had to find other ways to build trust.”

“I made that conscious commitment to keep showing up and being present and not going away. People started seeing me as contributing and trusting.”

“I didn’t get discouraged by it. I knew I was there for a reason.”