Decolonizing the Boardroom
This course equips you with the knowledge, tools, and strategies essential for championing Indigenous perspectives in the boardroom.
Engaging communities that have historically been marginalized poses a prevalent challenge for numerous organizations. This challenge often stems from the reluctance of a significant portion of these communities to participate. This reluctance is rooted in longstanding disparities and injustices that have become deeply embedded within an organization’s structures due to historical colonial practices.
The concept of “Decolonizing the Boardroom” involves a critical examination of conventional governance frameworks and an exploration of their historical underpinnings. This process allows us to discern how colonial legacies have significantly influenced these frameworks over time, often sidelining Indigenous perspectives in the decision-making process. Decolonizing the boardroom is an essential endeavour aimed at rectifying these historical wrongs and ensuring that decisions are reached equitably and inclusively.
In this course, we courageously challenge you to reimagine the current colonial systems and structures, and work towards ensuring that all voices are not only heard but genuinely included in their processes. We encourage you to embark on a profound exploration of why decolonization is essential in the light of equity. The course equips you with the knowledge, tools, and strategies essential for championing Indigenous perspectives in the boardroom. As Alroy Baker wisely noted, “Indigenous perspective is not just for Indigenous People; it is for everyone because it’s about being a good human.” Throughout this course, you are invited to leave behind the fear of making mistakes, as growth is a journey that welcomes imperfections. We encourage you to adopt a fluid and adaptable approach, recognizing that equity and inclusion are ongoing processes, rather than fixed destinations.
This course provides a list of online and downloadable resources, including a course transcript.
Part 1: Why Decolonize?
Part 2: The Road to Decolonization
Jessie Williams is an Indigenous Consultant at the Synergy Executive and Boards Consulting Group. Jessie is also the Dean for Indigenous Initiative for VCC.
Jessie is a citizen of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). Leaning on wisdom gained from her lived experience, educational journey, professional practice, and elder teachings, she develops and delivers reconciliation and decolonization efforts that enhance Indigenous presence, voice, and capacity.
With a wealth of experience as a Board of Director, Jessie approaches governance through a holistic lens, emphasizing reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Her impactful contributions extend to roles such as Director on the provincial First Nations Education Steering Committee, Chair of the Post-Secondary subcommittee, Board of Governor for Capilano University, and Board Member at Minerva BC, among others.
Jessie is committed to fostering reciprocal and strategic partnerships across diverse sectors, fortifying the well-being of individuals, communities, and society at large. Passionate about catalyzing systemic change, she actively engages in dialogue on individual and shared responsibility, particularly within the realms of racial, gender, and worldview diversity, drawing from the rich perspectives of First Nations.
Beyond this, Jessie is dedicated to promoting Indigenous representation and gender equality in leadership spaces, decision-making tables, and executive positions. Her advocacy reflects a commitment to uplifting and empowering underrepresented voices, contributing to a more inclusive and equitable future.
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