As the president and CEO of Cambium Networks, Atul Bhatnagar recognizes the need for close engagement between executives and corporate boards. To better understand how boards operate and the challenges they face, he has attended three Executive Education programs at Harvard Business School (HBS), Making Corporate Boards More Effective, Compensation Committees, and Audit Committees in a New Era of Governance. He talks about what it was like to become a student again and what he gained from his experiences on campus.
I've had the good fortune to work with many HBS graduates in my job. I find that each of them, because of the case study method, has a strong ability to assess and solve problems. When I was looking to further my education, the case study method appealed to me because it is grounded in real-life examples. That case study curriculum was a major factor in my decision to apply to HBS for board governance education. I felt confident that this experience would provide me with the most current and most relevant knowledge.
I gained relevant insights from all three. Making Corporate Boards More Effective was a very good overall program because it touched upon aspects of audit and compensation committees and, most important, how to create a strong board. The case studies were directly applicable to my board and business. Class discussions centered on ways to create an effective board, how to measure it, how to set goals, and how to develop and measure strategy. The other two courses took deeper dives into the best practices of audit committees and compensation committees, and they offered the latest techniques for succeeding in the midst of constant change. All of these programs reinforced the idea that a diverse board is a strong board.
HBS strives to make sure that the case studies are germane to a broad range of geographies and industries. That's important to me because a lot of my firm's business is global. The diverse group of participants representing Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and South America brought varied perspectives to class discussions. I think this real commitment to diversity is the differentiator for HBS.
What probably surprised me the most was how quickly I was able to make the transition to student mode. To extract the most from each program, it was essential to read the case studies and fully engage in the class discussions. At HBS, I was able to get up early, read the case studies, make sure everything was organized, and even have lunches and dinners with colleagues. It all reminded me of the days when I was attending undergraduate and graduate school in electrical engineering. The fact that the accommodations were so comfortable and well organized helped me become a student again.
Yes, because each program had a different main focus. For a board member who may only be able to attend one, I think Making Corporate Boards More Effective is a fantastic overarching program. For most CEOs, though, it's important to delve into the finesse and technicalities of audit committees and compensation techniques. Attending all three provides the level of depth that is necessary in this day and age.