When Belfast-based Operations Manager, May Cheung, 40, was first introduced to the Boardroom Apprentice by a previous candidate, she found herself feeling conflicted about applying due to years of lacking confidence and self-belief.
Having those feelings paired with previous thoughts about becoming a board member, May felt the Boardroom Apprentice would provide her with the right tools and experience to finally kick start her dream and help to turn it into a reality.
“Being on a board had always been in the back of my mind but I didn’t really do much about it because I wasn’t sure if I was the right material for a board or knew how to get on a board,
“My experience on the Boardroom Apprentice was very enjoyable. From the varied training sessions to the real-life boardroom placement, the entire programme definitely surpassed my expectations.” she said.
Set up by Eileen Mullan in 2017, the Boardroom Apprentice is a unique board learning, development and placement programme which aims to bridge the gap between aspiration and reality for those who wish to serve on boards in the Public and Third Sectors.
Each training day throughout the year is carefully planned out to transform each candidate into well-rounded individuals with all the necessary skills, confidence and mindset that will enable them to go forward for Board positions once they complete the programme.
Offering training on topics such as governance, marketing and finance, doing role-play scenarios and the boardroom buddy tactic, May was blown away by the level of interactivity that Eileen’s programme provided which gave her the real boardroom experience she was looking for.
“I remember when we all had to roleplay and pretend we were on a board. It was mostly scripted, with prompts, the interaction with your cohort was fantastic and actually helped shape your expectations when you first step into the boardroom on your placement”
“I was very comfortable because of my Department of Finance boardroom buddy. He was fantastic at making sure that I understood terminology as we would have met before the board meetings and went through the minutes which he helped me understand.” she explained.
As part of the year-long programme, each participant sits on a board that they have applied to sit on and is required to attend meetings and any other events that their chosen board holds.
May completed her compulsory board placement at the Department of Finance as their first ever Boardroom Apprentice, something she reflects on being a ‘once in a lifetime’ thing.
“I had the privilege of being their first Boardroom apprentice. It was both terrifying but exciting at the same time.”
May attended their board meetings and was allowed to go to events courtesy of the board placement which graced her with the invaluable insight of the day-to-day running of the Department of Finance board.
“My placement allowed me to get an understanding of the boardroom environment, how it worked and the pressures they’re under. You see a lot of what’s going on in the headlines and understand the public opinion.
“I think having seen behind the scenes, I have a bit more of an understanding and appreciation of the difficulties that they face.” she said.
When reflecting on her entire time at the Boardroom Apprentice, May finds that the benefits of the programme such as improved personal skills and expanded professional network outweigh any nerves that she had initially during the application process.
“The programme definitely helped me with my communication skills as it was my first step in saying yes and then it cemented that attitude for me. It has definitely improved my confidence in myself and I’m not as afraid to put myself forward for opportunities.”
“It’s been great to see our worlds merge together as I came into a new sphere of people through my cohort and those I met through the Cafe Conversation lunches during our training days, and at the Department of Finance. I still keep in touch with some of them today and since then, I’ve actually crossed paths with a number of them professionally which is great.”
She also believes it has done wonders for her professional career, thanks to training on governance which helped her wow her boss when she interviewed for her current job role nearly two years ago.
“My career has gone into overdrive thanks to the Boardroom Apprentice. It’s opened a lot of doors for me and I can definitely say it’s had a huge knock-on effect on my career in a very positive way,
“I’ve been able to bring in what I’ve learned through Boardroom Apprentice into some of the pieces of work that I do now because sometimes we have to look at governance and that allows me to apply that type of learning and thinking into my role.”
Upon completion of the course, May didn’t go onto sit on a board but has set her sights on applying for a position on a third sector board which increases people’s access to technology.
For anyone thinking of applying to the Boardroom Apprentice this year, May’s advice is clear and simple, echoing the infamous phrase, ‘Just do it’.
“My message is just say yes and don’t be afraid of letting your passion show. At the end of the day, it’s about engaging people who are passionate about something. If you’re passionate about mental health, access or disability rights, don’t be afraid to show that.”
Applications for Boardroom Apprentice are open until May 24, 2022.