Why a Guided Cohort?
In a cohort setting, you gain immediate interaction with both instructors and fellow students, facilitating real-time feedback, probing discussions, and a collaborative learning environment. This fosters a deeper understanding of the material and encourages the exchange of diverse perspectives. Additionally, an online classroom offers valuable opportunities to network, form connections, and build relationships that can lead to future collaborations or career growth.
This format is ideal for board members, CEOs, senior leaders, and governance professionals who want to expand their network and benefit from having set times for learning and follow-up discussions. We’ve found that self-paced study isn't for everyone, and many top leaders prefer the structure and accountability of a guided program to ensure their continued education isn’t sidelined by the demands of their busy lives.
Structure:
- Over the course of 7 sessions, you'll work closely with the same group of peers, fostering meaningful relationships within a small, focused learning community – intentionally kept small, with 10 to 15 participants.
- Every other week, you'll join a 90-minute live virtual classes via Zoom. Each session requires you to watch approximately 5 videos (30 minutes each) per module, along with some essential readings.
- Throughout the program, you'll navigate all six modules and the final exam, all while receiving guidance and support from the expert Governance Solutions Faculty Team.
Schedule (2025):
Kick-off: April 3rd
Module 1: April 17th
Module 2: May 1st
Module 3: May 15th
Module 4: May 29th
Module 5: June 12th
Module 6: June 26th
Every other Thursday, 3pm – 4:30pm (ET)
You Will:
- Receive valuable, direct feedback from faculty and peers, gaining diverse perspectives that will enrich your learning experience and accelerate your growth.
- Reach your full potential as a board member by mastering both essential and advanced governance skills.
- Add greater value in the boardroom, improving decision-making and eliminating inefficiencies.
- Prepare for your next board position or gain more confidence in your current role.
- Become a stronger leader and contribute to shaping a better future for your organization –and the world.
Interested but want to learn directly from our faculty?
Join a Professional Designation Information Session, where our faculty will explore the advantages of earning a governance designation, answer your questions about the program, certification requirements, and guide you on how to become a Professional Director®.
To register for an upcoming session, contact Rafael Mazotine at mazotine@governancesolutions.ca
"I chose this program because the core curriculum centres on the depth of knowledge attainment versus the initials/designation.
My class cohort was quite diverse in many dimensions and became part of my learning experience.”
Gary M. Seveny – Executive Director and Chairman of Apaylo Finance Technology Inc.
"In spite of having been on a board for many years and working with boards,
I learned a tremendous amount and particularly from my class cohort whose experience only broadened the learning."
Irena Fedchun – Retired Former Director of Finance & Administration at CHATS. Currently serving on Boards.
We’re Here to Help!
For any inquiries about payment options, additional information, or to book a private cohort for your board, please reach out to Rafael Mazotine, at mazotine@governancesolutions.ca.
Explore the details of each of the 6 modules below:
Module 1: Governance & Strategy
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Understand and fulfil the rights, roles and responsibilities of Board, Committees, the CEO and Executive
- Establish a clear sense of purpose, direction and priorities
- Effectively oversee, monitor, and ensure the accomplishment of strategic objectives
- Fulfill the board’s fiduciary duties
Module 2: Governance & Risk
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Fulfil the role of the board in risk governance
- Build the bridge between strategy and risk
- Oversee management and control of resources
- Set risk appetites and tolerances and measure the organization’s performance
- Understand the role of the board in ESG
Module 3: Governance & People
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Lead through difficult decisions and change
- Ensure board and management function effectively together and make decisions wisely
- Ensure accountability of the Board, Chair, Committees, CEO including succession, selection delegation, evaluation, and compensation
- Understand the impacts of leadership on the results of the organization
- Oversee human resource policy and development
Module 4: Governance & Board Effectiveness
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Ensure board effectiveness before, during and after the meeting
- Use in-camera and executive sessions appropriately and in a value-added way
- Build the optimal board and encourage the best mix of board members including board renewal and profiling
- Plan for board evaluations that enhance governance effectiveness
- Build board and deep board orientation and onboarding programs
Module 5: Governance & Resources
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Gain confidence that the budget aligns and resources the aspirations of the organization
- Receive accurate, complete and timely financial information at the board level
- Effectively oversee procurement, programs and projects of the organization
- Evaluate and oversee the financial system
- Provide value-added oversight of all corporate resources
Module 6: Governance Culture & Behaviour
In this module, you’ll learn how to:
- Forge healthy boardroom behaviour
- Frame and ask great board-level questions
- Understand the implications and issues of director liability
- Improving director engagement, performance, and boardroom behaviour through integrity
- Recognize the character, courage, competence and calling of board members
Final Examination
At the end of your 7-session guided cohort, you’ll complete a final exam covering material from all six modules. Once you’ve successfully completed the exam, you will be fully certified to use your Professional Director® designation: Pro.Dir®.
About This Program
Designed to give you the competence and confidence you need to be more effective in your boardroom, The Professional Director Education & Certification Program® is available in two formats: self-paced and guided cohort.