To mark International Women’s Day 2025, we spoke with several women from our Dynamic Boards NED Community about their experiences on boards, what they most enjoy about their Non-Executive Director roles, and how we can work together to encourage more women to join the boardroom.
In the next blog of this series focusing on women on boards, we are shining a light on Gail Le Coz, who is currently the Deputy Chair of the Audit & Risk Management Committee at The City of London Corporation.
Why did you become a NED / Chair?
Though I have always lived in big cities, over the years I have actively worked at staying engaged in my local community. To that end, shortly after moving to London I joined the board of a charity that matched volunteers with local organisations in need – and stayed on it for nearly a decade. It was truly inspiring to measure the massive, long-term impact that we had on neighbouring businesses and residents throughout that time.
What do you enjoy about NED work?
With my professional background in governance and risk management, I naturally gravitate towards discussions around strategy and oversight. It has been tremendously satisfying to help organisations plan out the frameworks they need to be successful and achieve their goals.
What would you say to inspire more women to become NEDs?
Whenever I meet or work with NEDs, I am always struck by how different our backgrounds and skill sets are. If you think that your experience may not match what organisations are seeking, I encourage you to think again. Everyone’s unique contributions can improve the work needed to be done. Often, I hear from people that they are unsure as to how to land their first NED role. Your local community organisations, like schools or other charities, might need your talents. Once you start asking around you will see what doors open.
What do you think is holding more women back from becoming NEDs?
Finding time for a meaningful commitment might be a challenge, yet I encourage everyone with even a few free hours a month to give it a thought. I have found it to be incredibly rewarding to be a NED. If there are concerns around lacking the appropriate skills, I believe that all boards need a healthy mix of people with various experiences. There is definitely an organisation that needs someone just like you.
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View our roles
Whether you are a new NED looking for your first role, or a seasoned Non-Exec ready for your next boardroom challenge, you are welcome to sign up and view our roles for free here. We list c.100 Non-Executive Director board roles each month from all over the UK. We also provide blogs and YouTube videos to encourage and inspire NEDs.
Join our free NED Community
If you are a Non-Executive Director on a UK board, join our free NED Community! We host monthly online meet-ups where we invite guest speakers to contribute on a range of topics as well as allowing time for peer-to-peer support between Non-Execs. If you want to become a more thoughtful and effective board member, register here.
Advertise your role with us
Are you/ your board recruiting a Non-Executive Director or Chair? We can help you advertise your role to candidates who will bring the skills, experience and perspectives you need on your board. We have helped companies and search firms advertise over 1000 Non-Exec board roles a year from across the UK. You can see information on our advertising options here and you can get in touch with the Dynamic Boards team at hello@dynamicboards.co.uk.
