Watch below for the full recording of our first Women in Business 'WIBinar' with guest speaker Debbie Beaven.
Who is Debbie Beaven?
Debbie has over 25 years in the C-Suite as an FD and CFO in different businesses and sectors, including media (Meridian and Central TV), international engineering and environmental consultancy (Gifford and Ramboll), management consultancy (Bain & Co) and financial services (Simplyhealth and Denplan), where she led financial strategy, change programmes and improved performance outcomes.
Debbie left executive life in March 2022 to take up a Non-Executive Director portfolio and has a number of Board positions; Chair of Audit and Risk Committees for Newbury Building Society, Southern Co-op and Boundless. Her roles reflect her values and sense of purpose, with a particular passion for health, sustainability and supporting organisations to address societal inequalities. She is also passionate about supporting and empowering women to reach their potential and be appreciated for their contributions.
What Does Debbie Discuss?
Women’s Experiences and Imposter Syndrome in Leadership: Debbie Beaven led a discussion on the unique challenges women face in leadership, including sexism, family roles, and imposter syndrome, sharing personal stories and research, with Karen facilitating and participants such as Kate Davis, Amelia, and others contributing.
Board Purpose, Behaviours, and Culture: Debbie provided an overview of board responsibilities, effective and ineffective board behaviours, and shared stories of 'ugly', 'bad', and 'good' boards, emphasising the importance of respect, trust, and inclusive culture, with Karen managing the session flow.Board Purpose and Governance: Debbie outlined the primary purposes of a board: shaping strategy and vision, ensuring resources, modelling values and behaviours, and maintaining governance by holding executives accountable and managing risk.
Pathways to Becoming a Non-Executive Director (NED): Debbie detailed the motivations, processes, and practicalities of becoming a NED, including CV preparation, role selection, time commitments, and the importance of research and due diligence, responding to questions from Karen, Catherine, and other participants.
Motivations and Role Selection: Debbie explained her motivations for pursuing NED roles, such as achieving work-life balance and continuing to add value, and described how she selected roles based on societal purpose, starting with charity boards and the NHS.
Key Takeaways and Closing Remarks: Debbie concluded with advice on values, role modelling, supporting other women, and not tolerating poor behaviour, while Karen summarised next steps, shared contact details, and promoted future events.