This October, Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. will launch a one-of-a-kind online master class that will provide expert insight about obtaining a coveted position as a paid Corporate Director. The idea came to Soaries, who is a director on three corporate boards, after he received an influx of questions from executives of all levels about how to become a corporate director.
“This has become my passion,” says Soaries. “As I speak to large groups of people around the country and even in my one-on-one mentoring with individuals, I have discovered that there is a gap in knowledge about how corporate boards work and how to position oneself to become a corporate board member. Corporate boards are not some secret society in which only a privileged few can partake, but there are specific strategies that must be implemented if someone wants to be a corporate board member. If one has the desire, backed by their own accomplishments, knowledge, skills and expertise to serve on a board, I want to help them reach that goal.”
The average age of corporate directors is 64. As companies diversify their board composition, age and expertise are key factors in selecting new directors. “Innovative technologies are disrupting the corporate landscape and cyber security has become an area of great risk,” says Soaries. “Younger professionals with experience in these areas are becoming an urgent need in boardrooms around the world.”
How to Become a Corporate Director is a 15 module course specifically designed to train future corporate members. An outcome of this endeavor is to assist companies seeking to increase the diversity in their board rooms. Teaching capable executives how to position themselves for seats at the corporate boardroom table is exactly why this class is being presented. Dr. Soaries’ corporate board experience for financial and real estate institutions is invaluable and fortify this master class with deep knowledge that cannot be found anywhere else.
The Master Class begins October 1st at https://dbsmasterclass.teachable.com/. Modules include “Corporate Governance”, “Researching Companies”, “Choosing an Area of Focus”, “Managing the Interview” and “Once You Are a Director.” Registration for the course is open now.
About DeForest B. Soaries, Jr.
The Reverend Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. has served as the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens (FBCLG) in Somerset, New Jersey since November 1990. His pastoral ministry focuses on spiritual growth, educational excellence and economic empowerment. From 1999 to 2002, Dr. Soaries also served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State, making him the first African-American male to do so. He is also the former chairman of the United States Election Assistance Commission, which was established by Congress to implement the “Help America Vote Act” of 2002.
In 2005, Dr. Soaries launched the dfree® Financial Freedom Movement. The dfree® strategy teaches people how to break free from debt as a first step toward financial freedom. dfree® was featured in a 90-minute CNN documentary “Almighty Debt.” He is author of the books “Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom”, and “Meditations for Financial Freedom – Volumes 1&2.”
Dr. Soaries is an independent corporate board director at three companies: Independence Realty Trust, Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and Ocwen Financial Corporation
