#FollowAnneOrr and Boards123
Founder of Boards123 Anne Orr
Happy New Year 2021 everyone. We’re back with a fanfare & a flourish - delighted to be kicking off the New Year with our first event of 2021 happening on 19 Jan when we’ll be hosting our good friend, Ireland’s famous Positive Economist and top business motivator Susan Hayes Culleton. We’ve been saving Susan as our secret weapon to turbo-charge everyone’s New Year. Check our events page for ticket release info.
We had our own team brainstorm nice & early in the New Year on 5 Jan so we’ll be bringing you some new ideas over the next couple of weeks. Anyway, that’s enough about us! Earlier this week I caught up with #awakenhubber Anne Orr. Anne is the founder of Belfast based Boards123, a platform that allows Boards of Directors to measure PROFIT PURPOSE DIVERSITY and IMPACT.
Q1. How would you describe yourself in 6 words or less?
Loving the journey + Learning every day
Q2. What prompted you to start your business?
I remember the day I found my purpose. I was rushing to attend a board meeting. I’m a busy mum of 3 and the meeting was scheduled for 6pm. So I just had time to finish work, pick up the kids from school, make dinner, open the front door to say hello to my husband, close the front door and drive into Belfast for the meeting.
Once the meeting began, I had an awful sense of deja-vu and despair all mixed together. How were we, a small volunteer arts board with massive legal responsibilities, meant to oversee a highly regulated charitable organisation. If only there was a way to help boards get organised, save time in board meetings and make it easier to understand our roles and responsibilities.
Once the idea was formed, I began a discovery phase and built a proof of concept product. Our MVP was a digital board meeting platform where boards can set-up meetings, send out invites, share documents and meeting minutes. When COVID hit, the world transformed overnight and online meeting platforms such as Zoom and Teams won. This was also a win for us, as the digital transformation of the boardroom had arrived. The MVP was retired and Boards123 was born.
The purpose of Boards123 is to help the amazing and brave people who step-up and accept positions of responsibility on Boards of Directors, paid or voluntary. Boards123 builds skills, diversity, board performance and good governance into the boardroom through our easy 3-step solution of Board Assessments - Board Training - Board Dashboards.
Boards123 helps experienced non-executive directors, new board members and the next generation of #futureleaders to understand how they can make an impact, both internally in the organisation and externally in their communities.
In 2021, Boards123 is launching our ESG dashboard, to help Boards of Directors expand their roles to consider important issues such as Purpose, the environment and climate change, diversity, sustainable leadership and good governance. #ESG goals.
Q3. Can you tell us a bit more about you?
Energised by lovely humans, being outside and sunshine.
De-energised by lockdowns.
Learning to get better at homeschooling and breathing.
Q4. How are you feeling about 2021?
I see 2021 as an amazing opportunity to shine bright as we all set out on our journeys. Who knows where we will end up, but with this amazing network of mentors, female founders, ideas and access to customers, we will have a brilliant time along the way.
Q5. How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
I didn’t know that I was missing AwakenHub in my life, and now I can’t imagine #femalefounder life without it. AwakenHub has connected me to a network of rockstar level female entrepreneurs. I have developed my business and personal network, created new business opportunities and deepened my business knowledge. Most importantly, it’s fun.
If you are interested in learning how to stop having bad board meetings, just sign-up to our mailing list.