The Important Role of Shadow Boards in a Growing Business

As businesses grow, maintaining alignment between leadership and the people becomes increasingly challenging. Companies are also under pressure to stay responsive to evolving market trends, employee needs, and social expectations around Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. One powerful way for organisations to bridge this gap and foster innovation is through the introduction of a Shadow Board.

 

A Shadow Board is a group of people from across the business who collaborate with the relevant Boards and main Board to provide fresh perspectives, challenge the status quo, and ensure a diverse range of ideas are considered in decision-making. These boards are more than advisory; they can be instrumental in driving strategic change, representing the workforce’s voice, and creating a feedback loop that enhances engagement and inclusivity across the company.

 

Why Implement a Shadow Board?

Shadow Boards are crucial for various reasons:

1. Bridging the Generational and Hierarchical Gap: Growing companies often find that as they scale, communication and cultural alignment across levels can become strained. Shadow Boards help bridge these divides by giving people from different directorates and levels a seat at the table.

2. Driving Innovation: Employees often bring unique perspectives that management may overlook. Shadow Boards leverage this diversity of thought to uncover new ideas, align with trends, and drive innovation.

3. Strengthening Engagement and Retention: By giving people a direct voice in decision-making, companies create a sense of ownership and inclusivity, improving both engagement and retention. Shadow Board members also gain career development experience, positioning them as potential future leaders.

4. Supporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). As businesses strive to foster inclusive workplaces, Shadow Boards serve as a critical tool for embedding EDI into company practices, ensuring representation and equitable access to influence.

 

Several companies have successfully harnessed the power of Shadow Boards to drive both innovation and inclusivity, transforming them into strategic assets that elevate engagement of their people and keep organisations aligned with evolving markets and social expectations. By involving

people from diverse backgrounds and levels of seniority, these companies have gained valuable insights that guide decision-making and foster a culture of collaboration and inclusivity.

 

For example, Gucci launched its Shadow Board in 2015 to incorporate the voices of younger employees, enabling them to influence key areas such as digital marketing, product design, and sustainability. This move helped Gucci remain relevant with younger consumers, sharpen its focus on social responsibility, and ultimately drive growth in a competitive market.

 

Similarly, Unilever established the “Global Future Leaders’ Council” to empower its younger employees to weigh in on pressing business challenges, particularly around sustainability and EDI. By engaging these fresh perspectives, Unilever has accelerated its progress on environmental and social responsibility goals, demonstrating how diverse, forward-thinking input can shape corporate strategy.

 

Recognising this, Ardent is introducing a Shadow Board as part of a wider initiative under our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) Plan. This move represents our commitment to embedding people-led innovation and inclusivity into the very fabric of our growth strategy. Our aim is for the Shadow Board to function both as an advisory group and as a key decision-making body in areas like Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI); Health & Safety; and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Innovation. Through this structure, Ardent’s Shadow Board will contribute directly to our Vision & Purpose, bringing new perspectives to our strategy and strengthening alignment between leadership and our people.

Key benefits we expect from our Shadow Board include:

 

· Enhanced Decision-Making: Shadow Board members will bring varied viewpoints, creating a comprehensive lens through which decisions are made and offering a two way process in working with the respective Boards.

· Career Development Opportunities: Serving on the Shadow Board offers members direct experience in strategic planning, preparing them for potential future leadership roles.

· Accelerated Growth and Innovation: By incorporating diverse perspectives, Ardent’s Shadow Board will drive innovation, keeping us competitive and forward-thinking in our industries.

 

Shadow Board is an invaluable asset for any growing business seeking to leverage the collective strength of its people. Companies like Gucci, Unilever, Mazars, and BNP Paribas have demonstrated

how these boards can bridge the gap between leadership and the people, infuse strategic initiatives with fresh ideas, and foster a strong, inclusive culture. Ardent’s Shadow Board will do just that, helping us become a more resilient, responsive, and inclusive organization while positioning our people to lead in the future.