September 27, 2024 • 7 mins
"Why Industry Leading Firms Are All-In on Board Service for Top Talent" explores the rising trend of top-tier companies investing in nonprofit board service as a key component of their leadership development strategies. Each episode examines how this innovative approach benefits both the employees and the companies involved, while also making a tangible impact on the nonprofit sector.
Visit CariClub.com | CariClub Video: Get on Board | Resource Page
Official CariClub Associate Board Handbook for Nonprofits
About CariClub
CariClub partners with forward-thinking companies across various industries—including financial services, consulting, investment firms, law firms, technology, and more—to develop their next generation of leaders while making a positive impact on society. Our clients include industry leaders such as Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, KKR, Unilever, and Sidley Austin. By integrating leadership development with nonprofit board service, we offer a unique platform that benefits employees, companies, and communities alike.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Aria Chandler (00:00):
Ever feel like you're stuck in a rut at work,
like you wanna make a differencebut you don't even know where
to start.
Well, today we're diving intosomething pretty cool, a
platform that's kind of shakingthings up for professionals
looking to level up theircareers while making a real
impact.
It's called Cari Club.
Picture this you're in a room,right, but it's not just any
room, it's a boardroom.
You're at the table with topexecutives strategizing.
(00:22):
You're at the table with topexecutives strategizing, making
decisions that will shape anentire organization and get this
.
That organization is tackling acause you're really passionate
about.
That's the kind of experienceis bringing to the table,
connecting people like you withnonprofit board positions.
Now, you might be thinking waitboard positions, isn't that for
, like bigwigs way further downthe line, and that's where it
(00:44):
gets interesting.
is opening doors forprofessionals at all levels,
from those just starting out tothose with tons of experience.
Dominic Reeves (00:52):
Exactly that's what's so fascinating about how
they cater to this wholespectrum.
They find board opportunitiesthat match not just your skills
but where you want to go in yourcareer too.
Aria Chandler (01:03):
And speaking of matching, it's not just randomly
throwing applications out there, right?
So tell me, how does actuallymake sure these connections are
a good fit for everyone?
Dominic Reeves (01:14):
Well, it all starts with their algorithm.
Aria Chandler (01:16):
Okay, now you've got my attention.
Dominic Reeves (01:18):
It's like a matchmaking service, you know,
but for professionals andnonprofits.
Okay, I'm really curious nowhow does that actually work,
this whole matchmaking thing?
So basically, when you join ,you create this profile.
Aria Chandler (01:28):
Yeah.
Dominic Reeves (01:29):
And you put in your skills, your experience.
You know the causes you reallycare about.
But it actually goes deeperthan that.
They want to know what you wantin your career too, like are
you trying to land a leadershiprole, or maybe you want to get
better at strategic thinking, ormaybe role, or maybe you want
to get better at strategicthinking or maybe just expand
your network in a certain field.
They take all of that and usethis algorithm to connect you
with the right board opportunity.
Aria Chandler (01:50):
So it's not just you out there, you know,
scrolling through endlesswebsites hoping for the best
takes all the guesswork out ofit, which I mean.
That alone is pretty huge.
But we were talking earlierabout companies being involved
too, like what's in it for them?
Why are these big names, youknow, places like Citigroup,
davis-polk, why are theyinvesting in this for their
(02:11):
employees?
It's got to be more than just,you know, checking a box for
their corporate socialresponsibility goals, right?
Dominic Reeves (02:16):
Yeah, it really is Companies that are like
really forward thinking.
They're starting to realizesomething.
When you invest in youremployees, help them grow even
outside of work, it comes backto you in a big way.
Take leadership development,for example, board service,
especially on those governingboards, it's like a crash course
.
Strategic decision making.
You're dealing with finances,you have to manage different
(02:39):
stakeholders.
Aria Chandler (02:40):
It's basically like real world experience you
can't get from those typical youknow typical training programs.
Dominic Reeves (02:45):
Exactly.
And what happens?
When you give employees achance to develop those skills,
their confidence shoots up,they're more engaged, they're
more likely to stick around.
Aria Chandler (02:55):
It's win-win right for everyone.
So it's like is tapping intothat whole purpose-driven work
thing, giving employees a way toactually live their passions
while they grow professionally.
But you know what I find reallycool about all this?
It's not just the individualsor the companies benefiting,
it's the nonprofits, too right.
Dominic Reeves (03:15):
Absolutely.
Think about it.
Nonprofits.
They're always looking for goodpeople for their boards, people
with the right skills and whoare actually committed.
's like this pipeline.
It connects them with all thesedriven, talented professionals
who are ready to put in the workfor a cause they believe in.
Aria Chandler (03:30):
It's almost like this breath of fresh air for
those organizations Newperspectives, new energy, maybe
even access to networks theywouldn't have had otherwise.
It's really kind of amazingwhen you think about it
Something that seems so simple,like connecting people to board
positions, but it's actuallyhaving this huge ripple effect.
But OK, let's bring it back tothe individual experience for a
(03:52):
sec.
We talked about the matching,the skills people can learn, but
what about support?
Are they just like thrown inthe deep end and expected to
figure it out on their own?
Dominic Reeves (04:03):
Not at all.
Actually, gets it.
You know, starting out on aboard it can be kind of
intimidating, so they've puttogether a bunch of support to
help you through the whole thing.
Aria Chandler (04:11):
Oh, that's good to know.
What kind of support are wetalking about?
Dominic Reeves (04:13):
Oh, that's good to know.
What kind of support are wetalking about?
Well, they have this trainingprogram.
It's called Nonprofit ReadyBoard Member Certification and
basically it gives youeverything you need to know to
be effective on a board.
Aria Chandler (04:26):
Governance, finances, fundraising, you name
it.
So it's like prepping for boardservice, but instead of you
know running laps, you'regetting real practical advice
from people who've been there.
Yeah, exactly.
Dominic Reeves (04:35):
And it doesn't even stop there.
They have these mentorshipprograms too.
They pair you up with someonewho's already on a board.
You know, someone withexperience that we can get
advice, guidance, all that goodstuff.
Aria Chandler (04:45):
That's huge, though, right.
Having someone who's been there, done that, they can share what
they've learned, maybe evenconnect you with people in their
network.
It sounds like is really goingthe extra mile to make sure
everyone wins the individuals,the nonprofits, everybody.
But OK, we've talked a lotabout the how behind .
What about the who?
Are there any real life storiesof people actually using this
(05:06):
platform to make a differenceand, you know, boost their
careers at the same time?
Dominic Reeves (05:12):
Oh yeah, for sure.
There's some really coolsuccess stories out there from
all kinds of professionals.
There's this lawyer, mirandaDavis.
She's at Davis Polk Through .
She joined the board of thisorganization, build NYC.
Aria Chandler (05:25):
Okay, cool.
What do they do?
Dominic Reeves (05:26):
They help students from underserved
communities, you know get intoentrepreneurship.
Aria Chandler (05:31):
Wow, so she's using her legal background to
help these young entrepreneurs.
That's amazing what she saidabout the whole experience.
Dominic Reeves (05:37):
She's actually said it's been like life
changing for her.
She gets to use her skills in awhole new way.
She's connected with thisamazing community and she's seen
the impact of her workfirsthand.
She's even said it's made her abetter leader at her firm too.
Aria Chandler (05:52):
It's crazy how, like, doing stuff outside of
work can actually make youbetter at your actual job Right?
Do you have any other storiesthat kind of show that link like
between personal growth andmoving up in your career?
Dominic Reeves (06:04):
Yeah, definitely .
So there's this guy, SpencerEngel.
He's an associate at KKR and atfirst he wasn't so sure about
joining a board.
He wasn't sure if he had thetime or even the experience for
it yeah, I can see that.
But then he used and he saidthe whole process was so easy,
so rewarding.
He found himself wanting to doit.
Aria Chandler (06:23):
It's great that they make it so approachable.
You know Like it breaks downthose barriers.
What kind of opportunity did heend up going for?
Dominic Reeves (06:30):
He's really into environmental conservation and
he found an organization that'sdoing great work in that space.
He was blown away by, like, thelevel of responsibility they
gave him and the impact he'sbeen able to make.
He said even the stuff he'slearned about planning strategy.
It's all held him at KKR too.
Aria Chandler (06:49):
It's amazing how it all ties together right Like
these experiences.
They enrich your life, theymake you better at what you do.
It seems like is doingsomething really different here.
They're not just filling a need.
They're changing the way wethink about careers, about being
a leader, about making adifference in our communities.
Dominic Reeves (07:06):
Exactly.
They've really hit on somethingspecial, I think.
Aria Chandler (07:09):
You know, as we wrap up here, it makes you
wonder, right, what if this isjust the start?
What if this whole ideacatching on and inspires a new
generation of leaders, leaderswho want to make a difference in
their careers and in the world?
It's a pretty exciting thought,and I'm really optimistic about
what they're doing over thereat .
Ever feel like you're stuck in a rut at work,
like you wanna make a differencebut you don't even know where
to start.
Well, today we're diving intosomething pretty cool, a
platform that's kind of shakingthings up for professionals
looking to level up theircareers while making a real
impact.
It's called Cari Club.
Picture this you're in a room,right, but it's not just any
room, it's a boardroom.
You're at the table with topexecutives strategizing.
(00:22):
You're at the table with topexecutives strategizing, making
decisions that will shape anentire organization and get this
.
That organization is tackling acause you're really passionate
about.
That's the kind of experienceis bringing to the table,
connecting people like you withnonprofit board positions.
Now, you might be thinking waitboard positions, isn't that for
, like bigwigs way further downthe line, and that's where it
(00:44):
gets interesting.
is opening doors forprofessionals at all levels,
from those just starting out tothose with tons of experience.
Dominic Reeves (00:52):
Exactly that's what's so fascinating about how
they cater to this wholespectrum.
They find board opportunitiesthat match not just your skills
but where you want to go in yourcareer too.
Aria Chandler (01:03):
And speaking of matching, it's not just randomly
throwing applications out there, right?
So tell me, how does actuallymake sure these connections are
a good fit for everyone?
Dominic Reeves (01:14):
Well, it all starts with their algorithm.
Aria Chandler (01:16):
Okay, now you've got my attention.
Dominic Reeves (01:18):
It's like a matchmaking service, you know,
but for professionals andnonprofits.
Okay, I'm really curious nowhow does that actually work,
this whole matchmaking thing?
So basically, when you join ,you create this profile.
Aria Chandler (01:28):
Yeah.
Dominic Reeves (01:29):
And you put in your skills, your experience.
You know the causes you reallycare about.
But it actually goes deeperthan that.
They want to know what you wantin your career too, like are
you trying to land a leadershiprole, or maybe you want to get
better at strategic thinking, ormaybe role, or maybe you want
to get better at strategicthinking or maybe just expand
your network in a certain field.
They take all of that and usethis algorithm to connect you
with the right board opportunity.
Aria Chandler (01:50):
So it's not just you out there, you know,
scrolling through endlesswebsites hoping for the best
takes all the guesswork out ofit, which I mean.
That alone is pretty huge.
But we were talking earlierabout companies being involved
too, like what's in it for them?
Why are these big names, youknow, places like Citigroup,
davis-polk, why are theyinvesting in this for their
(02:11):
employees?
It's got to be more than just,you know, checking a box for
their corporate socialresponsibility goals, right?
Dominic Reeves (02:16):
Yeah, it really is Companies that are like
really forward thinking.
They're starting to realizesomething.
When you invest in youremployees, help them grow even
outside of work, it comes backto you in a big way.
Take leadership development,for example, board service,
especially on those governingboards, it's like a crash course
.
Strategic decision making.
You're dealing with finances,you have to manage different
(02:39):
stakeholders.
Aria Chandler (02:40):
It's basically like real world experience you
can't get from those typical youknow typical training programs.
Dominic Reeves (02:45):
Exactly.
And what happens?
When you give employees achance to develop those skills,
their confidence shoots up,they're more engaged, they're
more likely to stick around.
Aria Chandler (02:55):
It's win-win right for everyone.
So it's like is tapping intothat whole purpose-driven work
thing, giving employees a way toactually live their passions
while they grow professionally.
But you know what I find reallycool about all this?
It's not just the individualsor the companies benefiting,
it's the nonprofits, too right.
Dominic Reeves (03:15):
Absolutely.
Think about it.
Nonprofits.
They're always looking for goodpeople for their boards, people
with the right skills and whoare actually committed.
's like this pipeline.
It connects them with all thesedriven, talented professionals
who are ready to put in the workfor a cause they believe in.
Aria Chandler (03:30):
It's almost like this breath of fresh air for
those organizations Newperspectives, new energy, maybe
even access to networks theywouldn't have had otherwise.
It's really kind of amazingwhen you think about it
Something that seems so simple,like connecting people to board
positions, but it's actuallyhaving this huge ripple effect.
But OK, let's bring it back tothe individual experience for a
(03:52):
sec.
We talked about the matching,the skills people can learn, but
what about support?
Are they just like thrown inthe deep end and expected to
figure it out on their own?
Dominic Reeves (04:03):
Not at all.
Actually, gets it.
You know, starting out on aboard it can be kind of
intimidating, so they've puttogether a bunch of support to
help you through the whole thing.
Aria Chandler (04:11):
Oh, that's good to know.
What kind of support are wetalking about?
Dominic Reeves (04:13):
Oh, that's good to know.
What kind of support are wetalking about?
Well, they have this trainingprogram.
It's called Nonprofit ReadyBoard Member Certification and
basically it gives youeverything you need to know to
be effective on a board.
Aria Chandler (04:26):
Governance, finances, fundraising, you name
it.
So it's like prepping for boardservice, but instead of you
know running laps, you'regetting real practical advice
from people who've been there.
Yeah, exactly.
Dominic Reeves (04:35):
And it doesn't even stop there.
They have these mentorshipprograms too.
They pair you up with someonewho's already on a board.
You know, someone withexperience that we can get
advice, guidance, all that goodstuff.
Aria Chandler (04:45):
That's huge, though, right.
Having someone who's been there, done that, they can share what
they've learned, maybe evenconnect you with people in their
network.
It sounds like is really goingthe extra mile to make sure
everyone wins the individuals,the nonprofits, everybody.
But OK, we've talked a lotabout the how behind .
What about the who?
Are there any real life storiesof people actually using this
(05:06):
platform to make a differenceand, you know, boost their
careers at the same time?
Dominic Reeves (05:12):
Oh yeah, for sure.
There's some really coolsuccess stories out there from
all kinds of professionals.
There's this lawyer, mirandaDavis.
She's at Davis Polk Through .
She joined the board of thisorganization, build NYC.
Aria Chandler (05:25):
Okay, cool.
What do they do?
Dominic Reeves (05:26):
They help students from underserved
communities, you know get intoentrepreneurship.
Aria Chandler (05:31):
Wow, so she's using her legal background to
help these young entrepreneurs.
That's amazing what she saidabout the whole experience.
Dominic Reeves (05:37):
She's actually said it's been like life
changing for her.
She gets to use her skills in awhole new way.
She's connected with thisamazing community and she's seen
the impact of her workfirsthand.
She's even said it's made her abetter leader at her firm too.
Aria Chandler (05:52):
It's crazy how, like, doing stuff outside of
work can actually make youbetter at your actual job Right?
Do you have any other storiesthat kind of show that link like
between personal growth andmoving up in your career?
Dominic Reeves (06:04):
Yeah, definitely .
So there's this guy, SpencerEngel.
He's an associate at KKR and atfirst he wasn't so sure about
joining a board.
He wasn't sure if he had thetime or even the experience for
it yeah, I can see that.
But then he used and he saidthe whole process was so easy,
so rewarding.
He found himself wanting to doit.
Aria Chandler (06:23):
It's great that they make it so approachable.
You know Like it breaks downthose barriers.
What kind of opportunity did heend up going for?
Dominic Reeves (06:30):
He's really into environmental conservation and
he found an organization that'sdoing great work in that space.
He was blown away by, like, thelevel of responsibility they
gave him and the impact he'sbeen able to make.
He said even the stuff he'slearned about planning strategy.
It's all held him at KKR too.
Aria Chandler (06:49):
It's amazing how it all ties together right Like
these experiences.
They enrich your life, theymake you better at what you do.
It seems like is doingsomething really different here.
They're not just filling a need.
They're changing the way wethink about careers, about being
a leader, about making adifference in our communities.
Dominic Reeves (07:06):
Exactly.
They've really hit on somethingspecial, I think.
Aria Chandler (07:09):
You know, as we wrap up here, it makes you
wonder, right, what if this isjust the start?
What if this whole ideacatching on and inspires a new
generation of leaders, leaderswho want to make a difference in
their careers and in the world?
It's a pretty exciting thought,and I'm really optimistic about
what they're doing over thereat .
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