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The Independent Director Initiative

The Independent Director Initiative is a two-day program designed to train, and help place, individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in venture capital, to serve as independent directors on the boards of venture backed private companies. The inaugural cohort of the Independent Director Initiative will be hosted in Berkeley, California on August 16-17, 2022.

Under Delaware law, “[i]ndependence means that a director’s decision is based on the corporate merits of the subject before the board rather than extraneous considerations or influences.” A director lacks independence if he or she is “beholden” to the interested party or interested director(s), or is so under such party’s or person’s influence such that the director’s “discretion would be sterilized.”

Application Period is Closed

Applications are now closed for the inaugural session of the Independent Director Initiative. Sign up here to be notified of future programs.

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Conference Schedule

The conference agenda is below (all in Pacific Time):

Day 1

August 16, 2022
8:00 am
Breakfast
9:00 am
Welcome Remarks
9:15 am
Board Overview
10:15 am
Director Duties
11:30 am
Independent Directors
12:30 pm
Lunch and Breakout Sessions
2:00 pm
Big Issues for Private Company Boards – Part 1
2:30 pm
Big Issues for Private Company Boards – Part 2
3:00 pm
Big Issues for Private Company Boards – Part 3
3:30 pm
Early Stage vs. Pre-IPO vs. Public Boards
4:30 pm
Board Recruiting and Service
7:00 pm
Dinner

Day 2

August 17, 2022
8:30 am
Breakfast
9:30 am
The Board Meeting Demystified: What Happens and How to Prepare
10:30 am
What Makes a Successful Director: Panel Discussion with Founders and Board Director
11:30 am
Networking Lunch and Board Bio Workshop

Speakers

Academic Partners

Organizational Partners