Learn
Building Governance Capability
Whatever topic or need you have, we support boards in gaining governance capability
What You See
Support Director Competency and Development
Most director training programs start from the assumption of a conventional corporate board. Or a run of the mill non-profit board.
But many of our clients don't have one: some were created by an act of parliament or have special legislation. Or regulatory and compliance obligations. Some have unusual appointing or nomination relationships. Others have multistakeholder representation, or ownership structures that underscore the need for the board to have a deep understanding of its role, what good looks like, and what it means to govern effectively.
What we Do
A proven curriculum, tailored to your structure
For many sessions, we start with our proprietary curriculum Board Leapfrog® which contains a base of governance best practices, refined over years of director training. Then we customize as needed to reflect your organization's actual legislative, regulatory, and strategic context.
Typically, we cover the legislated mandate, membership structure and accountabilities, financial oversight, risk oversight, CEO search, selection and performance, director fiduciary responsibilities, ethical decision-making, effective board practices, navigating conflict and boardroom culture.
EXAMPLES
Learn,
in practice
Learning activities take many forms: one-day in-person sessions, live webinars, recorded content, written handbooks and course materials.
These are real examples of our work, anonymized.
1)
A series of advanced director training guides, learning modules and other materials for an Ontario Delegated Administrative Authority, in a regulated sector.
2)
A board chair and committee chair coaching program for a national non-profit undergoing significant change.
3)
A series of half-day development sessions for a private company board seeking best practices in employee-owned governance.
4)
A director onboarding guide and orientation program created for a national non-profit organization seeking to support new directors in alignment with adult learning principles.
5)
A full day, in-depth training session designed for a mature board seeking deep dive understanding and guidance on overseeing enterprise risk management.
6)
A comprehensive annual director development program designed for a national non-profit board seeking sustainable change and adoption of effective director practices.
7)
A coaching program designed for an incoming board chair of a provincial medical society.
8)
A custom learning program for a group of private company CEOs and risk managers on enterprise risk management.
Discover Board Leapfrog
A foundational governance training program of Cosgrove & Co.
Every director deserves the chance to understand their role, run better meetings, and contribute meaningfully to their board. Board Leapfrog makes that possible by offering accessible, standardized training that provides the essential tools volunteer directors need to be effective.
Some examples of our work
These project descriptions are intended to give you an idea of how we work – no confidential information is ever disclosed.
LEARN - Non-profit sector association, created by a special Act
Customized board training program
The board of a provincial member-based association needed more than run-of-the-mill director training. The organization was created in a complex governance environment, with multiple roles, legislative requirements and roles that confused the board’s oversight with self-interest. The board wanted a clearer, more confident understanding of how to govern effectively within that context, which called for customized education grounded in its real structure, obligations and challenges.