Strategic Planning From A Board of Directors

A little under a year ago a friend approached me to join a board she was entering. She was actively pitching to two other women of color also involved in politics/government to participate in our region to join as well. She believed that the organization was not going to be more successful until it changed its outreach strategy on recruiting more diverse pools of women. Her approach was to recruit a group of high-level ladies who had both name recognition and influence. She understood that the women already on the board knew that they did not have a diverse enough board of directors which was not allowing them all the benefits that come with such.

Her strategy to bring diversity to the board in such a way that was irrefutable worked. All the women she had gone after were brought on the board not only for their expertise but the new value they added to the organization. Upon the new board of directors first time convening she knew it was the time for the conversation to be raised about the strategic plan that needed to be put in place to start recruiting a more diverse pool of women in the region. She knew her strategy rested on the opportunity to create a chance to create change that was desired but had yet to be achieved and would set the group apart from others.

We knew in our first year we would not be able to affect the incoming class that had been selected to interview but that we did have a hand in the those who were chosen to be in the class. We delegated on ensuring that the pool of women were both diverse in age, geographical location, background, and even which side of the state had more representation. We advocated that there was value in bringing on women that came from rural areas that may not otherwise have an opportunity to engage with us even if they had no vision of running in the next year because that could change over the course of the class but their willingness to participate could die.

We had much success in many of the women who didn't have the intention to run for a public seat such as city council, commissioner, or even state representatives ended up running for something that kept them involved like state committee.  We decided that we needed to open up our application process a few months early as to engage women earlier and to work more strategically in communities to ensure we are truly able to recruit a more diverse pool of women. We know that we already have a competitive edge because our target audience is clear but we know that our plan must adapt how to go deeper into that audience to better serve our mission and vision as an organization.