The Guernsey Branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD) has launched a diverse and inclusive forum for the next generation of leaders and directors.
The Next Gen Forum (the Forum) will bring together ambitious and aspiring individuals spanning different industries through a series of events, workshops and networking opportunities. The Forum aims to allow young professionals the opportunity to build connections, develop their own personal brand and create a foundation for confident, commercial and resilient directors of the future.
It is anticipated that the Forum will serve professionals in managerial roles who will move into director roles in the next two to five years.
The Forum will complement and enhance the IoD's established Future Leaders schemes, which provide invaluable experience at school/ sixth-form level through Leadership Shadowing and the Leaders of tomorrow programmes.
A rapidly changing landscape
Attendees of October’s IoD Convention 2022 may recall a recurring and significant theme – things are changing at pace. The landscape of how we do, lead and build businesses is fast evolving.
The pandemic has altered how businesses can train and nurture talent and develop their staff in a very short time. Today's leaders are in unenviable positions, navigating the changing tides amidst global political upheaval and an energy crisis. As a result, it is now more important than ever to forward plan, prepare and arm the next generation of directors and business leaders to tackle challenges on the horizon.
The need for forward-thinking, fresh perspectives, and initiative is more pertinent than ever. The shifts in training, remote working and office 'norms' will inevitably change the skill sets of people rising to leadership positions in firms and companies. The IoD recognises the need for the next generation of leaders and decision-makers to come together, acknowledging that partnerships and the strength of our networks and connections will be vital to building and evolving successful, adaptive, forward-thinking businesses.
Future-proofing the boardroom
The IoD’s aims include 'future-proofing' boards and supporting its members and wider industry in adapting to change. So we are excited to launch a new sub-committee, bringing together like-minded individuals from different sectors to establish and build the Forum. There is a clear drive to support the next-gen focus across industries, locally and internationally. The Forum aims to bring those initiatives together in one place on the island.
Who is the 'next gen'?
'Next gen' will inevitably mean different things to different people. Amongst business leaders, 'next gen' is typically used to describe the future of the boardroom and the next phase of growth and change that every board and industry needs to consider, in the context of an evolving landscape and the complex challenges this presents. With that comes the next generation, the people who are rising through organisations, training under the directors of today or are new directors and building their careers to become the directors of tomorrow.
What's next?
We are excited to welcome anyone interested in joining the Next Gen Forum to our launch event in February 2023. This will be the first of four quarterly events that the Next Gen Forum will run during the year. The launch will be an open event to allow prospective members to meet the committee, network and learn more about the IoD and the Next Gen Forum.
Learn more about the Next Gen Committee here.
Get involved
The IoD and the Next Gen Committee are eager to hear from organisations and individuals that are interested in being a part of the Forum, whether as prospective members to support the initiative or can identify people that would benefit from joining the Forum.
If you are interested in keeping up to date with the latest Next Gen Forum events, register your interest here.
