How I got a board on board…

Picture from our first board meeting - January 2024

🌸 How I got a board on board

‘Get a board in place’ was one of the first pieces of advice I received when I talked about starting up Bloom, my project management company. The friend who offered this advice had previously run his own business and said he couldn’t have done it without one.

So, I knew from the start this would be part of the plan – but, if I’m honest, I didn’t really know how to put a board together. It sounded scary, like something out of the TV show Succession – lots of people shouting at each other around a big table! But then once Bloom launched, I very quickly realised the truth of my friend’s words. I needed people who would back me up and provide the experience and qualities that I don’t yet have – or may never have.

For the first six months of my business, I met as many people as I could and took all the advice available, thinking all the time of who I might invite to be on my board. And this is the story of how I was lucky enough to assemble the fabulous trio of Michelle French , Kirsty Shearer and Steve Smith for the Bloom board.

The experienced business owner

Michelle French is the Director and Co-founder of CAMA Group, which provides circular economy solutions to film and TV production, construction and corporate clients. In short, her business is not in the same industry as mine, but I met her over dinner while working on a project at a film studios. A mutual contact introduced us and we got on well immediately, establishing a real connection.

 What I love about Michelle is her energy. She has run and sold a couple of businesses, as well as currently being the director of a very successful one, so she understands the whole lifecycle of a company and how to reach your business end goal. Michelle is very straight talking and I just knew from the start that she’d be a really good person to work with and to learn from. So, I asked if we could meet for a coffee and then if she would be on my board. And happily she said yes!

The industry contemporary

I’d met Kirsty Shearer several times previously through industry networking and events hosted by her company. She is the Operational Excellence Director at Agilité Solutions, an international commercial interiors specialist helping organisations enter, relocate or expand throughout Europe. And, as such, our professional worlds are closer, though as contractors rather than consultants.

Kirsty is a similar age to me, we have shared experience and, like me, she is married with children – but she’s probably about five or six years ahead of me in terms of business growth. Therefore, she’s really in the thick of building her own career, her profile and her company, but with a very close viewpoint to my own. As with Michelle, we just got talking and really clicked, and with all our mutual values I knew she’d be such an asset to my board. Kirsty is so hugely busy – I don’t know how she juggles everything! But I was delighted when she accepted.

The financial expert

I knew I wanted three people on the board, to make sure there was a balance of opinion – and my business coach Breda Ferarrio says always do things in threes! I first met Steve Smith at an event, we had a great conversation and it was clear we had similar values. He is the MD of Smith Greenfield, which offers bespoke insurance services, and I felt straightaway he’d be a great person to have on the board – so I asked him there and then. I think he thought I was a bit nuts!

Steve didn’t say yes immediately, he needed to know more about Bloom and me and – because of the difference in our businesses – he wasn’t sure how he could help. We met again and I effectively sold my vision to Steve. We spent a lot of time discussing how, with his risk-calculated nature, his support would be invaluable to me. I’m very high risk and Steve’s grounded advice on measuring the benefit of each action and keeping on top of the numbers is just what I need. I’m very fortunate that he could be persuaded.

It’s all about energy

So, the board all came about very organically. And this is perfect for me because it’s all about energy and connection. They were people that I wanted to spend my time with and learn from – and that was always my aim for the Bloom board.

 Whether you’re actively looking for a project manager or would just like to start a conversation, I would love to hear from you!

Yaeger Irwin is the founder and owner of Bloom Project Management Limited. She is passionate about her work, having spent the last 20 years delivering complex and high-profile projects to a wide range of satisfied clients. Get in touch to find out how Bloom could help with your next project.