But what exactly do you do - and can I become one?Two important questions that many want to ask of company directors but are reluctant to do so.Being approached to join a company's board of directors can be a daunting proposition. But such a worthwhile one. Directors are needed for everything from small family businesses run by mum and dad through to multi-million dollar concerns with hundreds of employees and numerous outlets.The opportunities are enormous and wide ranging.Warren Tapp has experienced them all and has gathered his wealth of knowledge into this invaluable guide to the whys and wherefores of being a company director. For more than thirty years he has served as a director on boards of all manner of companies in Australia and overseas. And for more than ten years he facilitated modules of the company directors' course for the Australian Institute of Company DirectorsHis invaluable book explains in a concise and plain style the responsibilities, skills and duties required of directors and especially how newcomers can fully prepare themselves for all facets of the role.Topics include financial oversight, legal matters, committee work, risk management, strategic planning, not-for-profit boards, board meetings and much more.All your questions answered.

Practical filmmaking tips, tricks and philosophies specific to the art and craft of directing commercials for television and the web. Filmmaker Jordan Brady has directed over 1,000 spots and shares his insights from over 20 years filming for advertising.

Nonprofit leadership is messy Nonprofits leaders are optimistic by nature. They believe with time, energy, smarts, strategy and sheer will, they can change the world. But as staff or board leader, you know nonprofits present unique challenges. Too many cooks, not enough money, an abundance of passion. It’s enough to make you feel overwhelmed and alone. The people you help need you to be successful. But there are so many obstacles: a micromanaging board that doesn’t understand its true role; insufficient fundraising and donors who make unreasonable demands; unclear and inconsistent messaging and marketing; a leader who’s a star in her sector but a difficult boss… And yet, many nonprofits do thrive. Joan Garry’s Guide to Nonprofit Leadership will show you how to do just that. Funny, honest, intensely actionable, and based on her decades of experience, this is the book Joan Garry wishes she had when she led GLAAD out of a financial crisis in 1997. Joan will teach you how to: Build a powerhouse board Create an impressive and sustainable fundraising program Become seen as a ‘workplace of choice’ Be a compelling public face of your nonprofit This book will renew your passion for your mission and organization, and help you make a bigger difference in the world.

An essential guide to understanding the dynamics of a startup's board of directors Let's face it, as founders and entrepreneurs, you have a lot on your plate—getting to your minimum viable product, developing customer interaction, hiring team members, and managing the accounts/books. Sooner or later, you have a board of directors, three to five (or even seven) Type A personalities who seek your attention and at times will tell you what to do. While you might be hesitant to form a board, establishing an objective outside group is essential for startups, especially to keep you on track, call you out when you flail, and in some cases, save you from yourself. In Startup Boards, Brad Feld—a Boulder, Colorado-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist—shares his experience in this area by talking about the importance of having the right board members on your team and how to manage them well. Along the way, he shares valuable insights on various aspects of the board, including how they can support you, help you understand your startup's milestones and get to them faster, and hold you accountable. Details the process of choosing board members, including interviewing many people, checking references, and remembering that there should be no fear in rejecting a wrong fit Explores the importance of running great meetings, mixing social time with business time, and much more Recommends being a board member yourself at some other organization so you see the other side of the equation Engaging and informative, Startup Boards is a practical guide to one of the most important pieces of the startup puzzle.

From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together

An insider's guide to entrepreneurship that no business person should be without. Being an entrepreneur – owning and running your own business – is a great career option for those wanting to take control of their professional lives. It's a particularly great option for women; a credible and viable alternative to struggling up the (still male-dominated) corporate ladder. Hugely successful entrepreneur Diane Foreman also believes women have a unique role in — and duty to — inspire, mentor, sponsor and promote other women. In this candid, engaging and inspiring book she describes her own entrepreneurial journey, from being a complete greenhorn to heading up one of New Zealand's most sucessful businesses, being a major exporter and an EY Entrepreneur of the Year. It hasn't been easy and she's made plenty of mistakes. The secret, she says, is learning how not to repeat them. Full of tips, insider knowledge and how-tos, this is a book no business person can be without.