Guided Cohort
The Professional Director Certification Program®
Gain the confidence and competence you need to be more effective in the boardroom. Work together with a group of your peers to build governance competence and earn Professional Director® certification in only 19 weeks! You’ll go through all six modules of the program and the exam, working together with the same cohort of peers.
Ideal for team players eager to network, this option is also available for private group bookings.
Includes all 6 modules + exam. Installment option available during checkout. Interested in booking a private group for your organization? Get in touch
Governance Education Information Session
Try a Governance Education Information Session and experience the Program before the next Cohort starts – with no strings attached! Join Debra Brown and David Brown for an obligation-free chat and get the answers you need.
Please, select and click on a date below:
August 17th – Wednesday – 5pm
August 22nd – Monday – 1pm
Once the download is complete simply open the session invitation to add it to your calendar.
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 19-week 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.
Course Structure
To ensure you get the most of your 19-week guided cohort, you’ll meet for 90 minutes every Thursday with the same cohort of people in a virtual class led by one of our expert instructors.
Outside class, you’ll watch supplemental videos and prepare for the next week’s case study. You’ll write a quiz at the end of each module, with a final exam at the end of your 19 weeks. After successfully completing all six modules and the final exam, you’ll be a certified Professional Director®.
Your Instructor
Dr, Debra Brown is the founder, President and CEO of Governance Solutions Inc. and has been a leading voice in governance since 1991.
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 three formats: self-paced, week-long intensives or guided cohort.